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All Steel Construction Is Proposed for Ships According to a statement issued on Sept. 15 by Edward G. Budd, president of the Edward G. Budd Mfg. Co., Phila- delphia, there is no question about the eventual economy in building all-steel fireproof ships. “President Roosevelt’s recommenda- tion to the effect that American pas- senger ships of the future should be of all-steel construction and that the pres- ent interiors be replaced by steel parti- tions is timely and practicable. “Rear Admiral George Henry Rock, U. S. N. (retired) is also to be com- mended for emphasizing that the pub- lic is partly responsible for such disast- ers as that which destroyed the Morro CASTLE because of its supposed prefer- ence for ships tricked out with paneled walls and decorative hangings. As he says, it is up to the public to act, and to insist upon fireproof ships.” Mr. Budd goes on to say that due to the pressure of immediate need for economy, partitions, paneling doors, etc., of ships have been built of inflam- mable material. “However, it is prac- ticable and eventually economical to construct them of light weight stain- less steel timber. Partitions made of this material are strong, light, econom- ical and firesafe. The cost of their maintenance is much less than that for combustible materials. Their use should have the effect of reducing ma- rine fire insurance rates materially. So, in the end fire-proof construction would not only be humane in shipbuild- ing, but would result in actual savings to shipowners. “I firmly believe that not only the ships of the future, but many of those now in use will be converted to all steel and thus afford greater safety. This will be another of the many advances in the arts which will for years to come keep all the American people busy serving their neighbors and earn- ing a living for themselves.” Italian Line Sailings Italian line vessels continue to show large bookings on both eastbound and westbound sailings. The Roma arrived in New York on Aug. 22 from Italy, the Riviera, Spain and Mediterranean ports with 1017 passengers, 375 returning from a Mediterranean cruise while the re- mainder were from Italy, the Riviera, and Gibraltar. She sailed from New York on Aug. 24 for Gibraltar, Nice, Genoa, Naples and Haifa. On Aug. 29 the CoNTE Dr SAVOTIA ar- rived in New York from Naples, Genoa, Nice and Gibraltar with 1808 passen- gers, the record passenger list for any westbound liner up to that time this year. The Contr pr SAvora holds the eastbound passenger record since 1932 when she sailed from New York with 36 1950 passengers on board. Arriving in New York on Sept. 13 from Naples, Genoa, Nice and Gibral- tar, the Rex exceeded the recent west- pound record passenger list, made by the Conte pi SAvora on Aug. 29, with her own record for the year of 1863. She sailed from New York on Sept. 15 with 850 passengers for Gibraltar, Naples, Nice and Genoa. C. M. Armstrong Dies Capt. Charles M. Armstrong, gener- al passenger traffic manager of the Furness-Bermuda line, New York, died at the New Rochelle hospital, New Rochelle, N. Y., on Sept. 9. He was 42 years of age, and his death was due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Captain Armstrong backed by the progressive policy of the line he sery- ed had been remarkably successful in building up a large passenger trade between New York and Bermuda. He was held in high regard by his colleagues and by the shipping men of the port. He was born in St. John, N. B., and during the World war he served for 42 months as captain of the Highty-seventh batallion, Canadian Grenadier Guards. He was awarded the military cross for conspicuous gallantry in action. On leaving school he went to work for the Canadian Pacific in Montreal and later with the Allan line in that city, continuing with that company until 1915. After the war Captain Armstrong re-entered the shipping business with the Canadian Pacific in New York and later joined the Fur- ness, Withy Co., where from the first he devoted his attention to the pas- senger traffic of the Furness-Bermuda line. MARINE REVIEW—October, 1934 Lifeboat Race Is Won by Italian Crew The eighth international lifeboat race, held in the Hudson river on La- bor day, was won by the crew of the Italian liner, CONTE DI SAVOTA. The two-mile course, starting from a point off Spuyten Duyvil and end- ing near the George Washington bridge, was completed by the winning crew in 16 minutes and 20 seconds. The crew of the W. C. TEAGLE of the Standard Shipping Co., winners of the race last year, came in second in 16 miuutes and 30 seconds; with the crew of the VrerAaua of the United Fruit Co., close behind them, completing the course in 16 minutes and 32 seconds. The CoNnTE pI SAVOIA was given pos- session of the R. L. Hague interna- tional lifeboat racing trophy for one year. This cup becomes the permanent possession of the crew winning the race three times. Silver cups were awarded the boats finishing first, sec- ond and third, while gold medals were presented members of the CONTE DI SAVoIA crew. The TEAGLE seamen re- ceived silver medals and the VERAGUA oarsmen, bronze medals. There were nine entries in the race this year, as follows: CONTE DI SAVOIA of the Italian line, completing her course in 16 minutes, 20 seconds; the W. C. TeEaGLe of the Standard Ship- ping Co, 16 minutes, 30 seconds; VERAGUA of the United Fruit Co., 16 minutes, 32 seconds; VON STEUBEN of the North German Lloyd, 16 minutes, 34 seconds; PRESIDENT HARpDING of the United States lines, 16 minutes, 39 seconds; Excarpur of the Export Co., 16 minutes, 42 seconds; QUEEN oF BER- MUDA of Furness Withy & Co., 17 min- utes, 17 seconds; Nora BAgERSK of Isbrandtsen-Moller, 17 minutes, 57 sec- onds; and SCANPENN of the American- Scantic line, 19 minutes, 45 seconds. Holiday Cruise Planned Due to the number of inquiries re- garding Christmas and New Year’s holiday cruises, the International Mer- cantile Marine-Roosevelt Steamship Co. has scheduled a New Year’s eve cruise to Bermuda on the United States liner MANHATTAN. The MANHATTAN is to sail from New York on Dec. 28 and to arrive at Hamil- ton, Bermuda on the morning of Dec. 30. The passengers will have a full day and a half in Bermuda, which is an unusually long stay for a four-day cruise, as the MANHATTAN is scheduled to sail from Hamilton on the noon of Dec. 31. New Year’s eve is to be cele- brated on shipboard on the return voy- age. The MANHATTAN is to dock in New York on the evening of Jan. 1. The interest shown in these cruises indicates that they will be even more popular than last year, when the MAN- HATTAN was booked to capacity.