The Frontier

QUEEN OF THE SEAS

Luxury Liner To Make Maiden Voyage Oct. 16

NEW YORK.-With the greatest reconditioning job in maritime history now nearing its final stages, the world's largest passenger liner, Cunard's 83,763-ton Queen Elizabeth, is being prepared to launch the career postponed by war for more than six years.

Transformed into a new ship, the Queen Elizabeth will make her maiden voyage starting regular service from Southampton to New York on October 16. The return voyage from New York is scheduled for October 25.

The gray war paint that shrouded the ship when she slipped across the Atlantic in March, 1940, on the first of many vital war missions, has been replaced by the colors of peace--shiny black hull, gleaming white superstructure, red and black funnels, colors of the Cunard line.

Thirty tons of paint were required to cover the ship's million square feet of exterior surface.

Decks worn by the tramp of 811,000 pairs of military boots have been relaid. Blackout paint has been scraped off 2,000 portholes. Miles of temporary wiring and piping have been dismantled. The ship has been stripped of such military appurtenances as 10,000 standee berths, temporary sanitary facilities, bulkheads, storerooms and troop fittings.

The reconversion job began immediately after the Queen Elizabeth completed her final voyage as a war transport last March 6.

Now a luxury ship, the Queen Elizabeth will be furnished with equipment and decorations ordered and delivered before the advent of war, then stored in the United States, Australia and other places throughout the world for the past six years.

Fittings include 21,000 pieces of furniture and equipment, 4,500 sets tees, 4,000 mattresses and pillows, 6,000 curtains and bedspreads, 2,000 carpets, 1,500 wardrobes and dressing tables and 10 miles of carpets.

As the final step in reconversion, the ship will enter the graving dock for examinations of the four propellers, each weighing 32 tons, the giant 140-ton rudder and other underwater parts.

One-way rates will start at $165 for tourist class, ranging up to $365 for first class.