The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Normandie Will Commence Service Next June Announcement has been made by the French line that the superliner NoRMANDIE, designed to be the world’s largest and fastest ship, will sail on her initial voyage from Havre June 1, 19385. She will make her first ap- pearance in New York harbor four days later. Latest information indicates that the NorRMANDIb’s tonnage will be 75,000 gross tons, possibly as high as 78,000 and that she will be 1027 feet in length overall. An average speed of 32 knots is anticipated. At this speed she can cross the Atlantic in four days. Her extensive sea trials are set for late this year or early in 1935. Prog- ress in completing the new liner at the Penhoet shipyard at St. Nazaire, France, is being made according to schedule. Had the work been rushed the new vessel could have been ready for operation this year, but due to conditions the work was purposely slowed up Somewhat with the view of placing her in service next year when it is expected that travel will be much improved. Assurances have been made to the French line that terminal facilities in Manhattan will be ready before the vessel is completed. It is understood that the French line has signed a lease with the city of New York for the new 1100-foot terminal to be known as Pier 90, Hudson river, at the foot of West Fiftieth street. Only the shed now remains to be completed to make the new terminal ready. Japanese Motor Liners Word has been received that the Nippon, Yusen, Kaisha line is con- structing a fleet of six express cargo motorships for the Japanese New York service. These vessels are to have a speed of 18% knots and they will therefore be among the fastest cargo ships afloat. First of these vessels, it is expected, will enter service next September to be followed at regular intervals until the sast which is to be commissioned in March, next year. The vessels are to have a length of 446 feet and a beam 62 feet with a gross tonnage of 7300. The total car- rying is to be nearly 14,000 tons. Cold storage space will be available for 200 tons of cargo. That the Japanese are taking the lead in the development of fast cargo liners is evident. The new cargo mo- tor liners commissioned early this year by the Mitsui line, the AzuMASAN Maru and AMAGISAN Maru, attained a speed of nearly 20 knots on their sea trials. Bids Are Requested by U. S. Engineers Bids will be received until noon on July 16 by the office of the division engineer, corps of engineers, United States army, 707 Postal Telegraph building, Kansas City, Mo., for fur- nishing 240 pieces 28-inch inside di- ameter pipe, 12 feet, 10 inches long, ¥,-inch plate and 500 pieces 28-inch inside diameter pipe connecting links for the Fort Peck dredges. The same office will receive bids until noon July 9 for the construc- tion of a steel sheet cut-off wall for Fort Peck dam. These notices were issued for the division engineer by Capt. Theodore Wyman Jr., corps of engineers, as- sistant to the division engineer. Bids will be received until June 28 by the United States engineer office, Memphis, Tenn., for furnishing and delivery of 120,000 pounds of %-inch galvanized steel wire strand to the supply and repair depot, Bridge Junction, Arkansas, with alternate bids on the same material f.o.b. con- tractor’s plant. Bids will be received up to 2 p.in. July 6 by the United States engineer office, Memphis, Tenn., for leasing one or two dredges and dredge tend- ers. Full information may be re- ceived on application. New Cruiser NE of the latest of Uncle Sam’s OO fighting ships, the U. S. S. MINNEAPOLIS, thirteenth to be laid down of the 18 heavy cruisers per- mitted the United States under provi- sions of the Washington and London naval treaties, was completed at the United States navy yard, Philadelphia and placed in commission as per sched- ule on May 19. On May 28 she left the navy yard on a four-day builder’s sea trial off the Delaware capes. Upon com- pletion of the sea trial, which was en- tirely successful, she returned to the navy yard at Philadelphia for the in- stallation of certain equipment de- layed by late delivery of material. On June 20 she sailed from the navy 24 Minneapolis Commissioned yard on her shakedown cruise. During the shakedown cruise the MINNEAPOLIS will make a trip abroad. In the fall she will return to the Phila- delphia navy yard to be prepared for final trials. These trials will be held under the supervision of the board of inspection and survey, and will probably take place sometime in Oc- ry U. 8S. 8. Minne- apolis, built at the United States navy yard, Philadel- phia. Success- ful builders’ trials began on May 28 rs tober. After completion of any work which may develop as a result of the trials, the vessel will join the fleet as an active unit of the cruiser force. Contract for building the Murnnr- APOLIS Was signed on July 12, 1929. Her keel was laid June 27, 1931. She was launched on Sept. 6, 1933. The MINNEAPOLIS has a standard dis- MARINE REVIEW—July, 1934 placement of 10,000 tons. Her length overall is 610 feet; length at waterline, 578 feet; beam, 61 feet, 10 inches; and mean draft, 21 feet, 7 inches. Her armament consists of nine 8-inch main battery guns, arranged in three triple mounts. In commission she will carry four planes, two mounted on catapults. and two in hangars aft. Her speed is about 32.5 knots. Complete engine room propelling equipment for the MINNEAPOLIS was supplied by the Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. Geared turbines at a total of 107,000 horsepower drive four pro- pellers giving the ship a top speed of 33 knots. Westinghouse propelling machinery is also fitted on the heavy cruisers. New ORLEANS and SAN FRANCISCO, both of which are on their 10,000 mile shakedown cruises, the former enroute to Copenhagen and the latter on her way to Australia, while still another cruiser, the U. S. S. Asrorra, building on the Pacific coast will be ready for sea around July 1. The MINNEAPOLIS is in command of Capt. Gordon W. Heines, U. S. N. The executive officer is Commander John R. Beardal, U. S. N. She will carry a total of 34 commissioned officers, nine warrant officers of a crew of 551 men.