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TELESCOPE May 99 The "Lakers" of World War I AND THEIR PREDECESSORS: PART ONE Early Lake-Built Ocean Vessels By the Rev. Edward J. Dowling, S. J. (CONTINUED FROM APRIL ISSUE) All of the vessels described thus far were typical ocean freighters with machinery amidships, and were quite unlike the Great Lakes freighters of the time. Vessels with engines aft were also built at this time, either specifically for ocean service, or were built on speculation, and in nearly every case these were purchased by ocean or coastwise operators. We will discuss and describe these engines-aft types later on in this paper. It was not until 1911 that additional ocean type vessels were built on the Lakes. In that year Great Lakes Engineering Works designed and constructed seven vessels of full canal dimensions and of rather deep draft. Four of these were built for the Ocean Freight Lines of New York, and were intended primarily for work in the West Indies trade. Three were for the American Transportation Company, managed by J. W. Elwell & Co. of New York, and were for use mainly in the United States and Mediterranean service. The following description of these ships appeared in International Marine Engineering for February, 1913. "These vessels have two complete steel decks full length of the ship. There