World's largest liner is launched

CLYDEBANK, Scotland (UP) -- The world's largest ship, the sister ship of the "Queen Mary," was launched today.

Queen Elizabeth broke the bottle on her prow to name the ship in her honor and send the 85,000 sons of steel rumbling down the ways into the River Clyde.

The "Queen Mary" now disputes with the French liner Normandie for the honor of being the world's largest ship. When the "Queen Elizabeth" enters the New York-West European trade in May, 1940, she will end the argument for she is 3,765 tons heavier, 55 feet longer and 51.5 feet deeper than the "Queen Mary." The two cost approximately $25,000,000 each.

Queen Elizabeth was to have launched the ship in the presence of King George, but the king could not leave London where his presence may be required to sign mobilization papers in event of a European war.

The "Queen Elizabeth" will be strikingly different from the "Queen Mary." She has but two funnels, instead of three, and is so streamlined that she resembles the German liner Bremen more than her sister ship. She will have 14 decks, two more than the "Queen Mary." She will accommodate 2,410 passengers in three classes, 300 more. Her builders hope she will even be faster. She will have four propellors driven by four turbines.