European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 13, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse                              Tugs ferries welcomed Queen on Maiden voyage in june 1936 speedy Queen took rough Atlantic storms in stride during Many Crossings Seldom was delayed by seas. In m Fri m life i ii it to a. Ski in a. Proud liner boasted gun tubs during War years helicopter tug escort old lady past statue of Liberty on last crossing. Captain s table was scene of Many gala parties Over Queen s years. By George Eberl staff writer Ryphe Queen has abdicated and her j. Future is now tied to an alien Shore. The Queen Mary for More than 30years the sleek and stately mistress of the Atlantic a Graceful 81,000-ton Beauty measuring More than 1,000 feet in length is to become a maritime museum convention Center and pleasure Palace for Long Beach Calif. Although a financially losing proposition for the Cunard steamship co. In her waning years Mary brought a Sale Price of $3.4 million from Long Beach which outbid new York City and Hong Kong shipping magnate c. Y. Tung. New York wanted to use the Queen fora floating High school and Tung planned to turn her into a luxury  her Halcyon Days the Gargantuan ship was transatlantic transportation for entrepreneur and entertainer Royalty and raconteur. During her 1,000 Cross Ings the 1,000th was completed last sept. 27the Queen gave elegant surroundings and accommodations to More than 2,000,000 passengers. Sporting a dining room covering nearly a half acre the clientele consumed an awesome variety and volume of Edi Bles ranging from blueberries 100 pounds per voyage to Turtle soup 50gallons Over the same haul. Nor was the Queen s Long service confined to meeting the needs and whims of the distinguished. During world War ii her Speed afloat in excess of 30 knots As an average enabled her to outrun enemy submarines and shews used to transport troops up to a full division of 15,000 men at a time and War casualties As Well As British prime minister sir Winston Chur Hilland German prisoners of War. Churchill under the alias of Colone Warden first examined the detailed plans for the invasion of France aboard Mary. When he was a passenger the liquor restrictions were relaxed Al though the ship was officially dry Dur ing the War. The Queen Mary did double duty Dur ing its wartime transatlantic stint carrying american troops eastward an converting to a Hospital ship for the re turn voyage. This meant a wholesale switchover at both ends of the line with 2,000 bunks being removed to make room for Hospital accommodations atthe Queen s european Docking. Mary whose career had begun when she Slid Down the ways in Glasgow Scotland As Job no. 534" on sept. 26,1934, was offered along with her sister ship Queen Elizabeth to the . For service in the Pacific War after be Day but a a Day s Quick arrival precluded her employment in the War against Japan. Ith the fighting Over the Queen s clientele took on a feminine Lookas she carried some 9,000 English brides of americans to the . And 10,000 Ca Nadian wives to Halifax. Mary was finally dry docked for the first time in seven years in september 1946 As her restoration to peacetime purposes was undertaken. Among other things she was Given anew Bow to replace the one damaged in 1942 when she collided with and sunk a escorting Cruiser Curacao off the coast of Ireland. Some 10,000 pieces of furniture were dragged out of storage and returned to the Queen and her railings scarred with the initials of americans were planed clean save for one Section that was sent to the . Army As a souvenir. Although restored to her former ele Gance the times had changed. In Addi Tion to disasters befalling her disaster ranging from Dock strikes to running aground at Cherbourg she was by passed by the Jet age and even her Long standing Speed record fell to the smaller 52,000-ton . United states which hit 36.17 knots. Cunard deleted the entry at the head ing of the ship s passenger lists the world s fastest  despite her inevitable succumbing to the historical processes of age the Queen Mary has to stand As a Majestic statistical wonder. Items every round trip required taking on 1,000,000 Gallons of fuel Oil during a voyage the Kitchen would use 10 tons of flour three tons of Tor turkeys 144 bottles of cooking wine the bar Stock included Over 10,000 bottles of win and 10 tons of beef on one trip the Queen carried it sown flock of hens to assure the fresh Ness of the eggs this Ocean going City of 3,000 popu lation had 600 telephones two radio stations 378 fire hydrants 700 clocks kennels for 26 dogs its own newspaper the Ocean times and was Able to Gen Erate sufficient Power to Light 300,000 30-Watt Light bulbs almost 1,300 people helped run this colossal ship including such exotic professionals As a physiotherapist six hair dressers and a turkish Bath attendant. The demands by the customer were often unusual. Liberace s piano provided the baggage master with difficulties in loading and the ship s gymnastics instructor Don Valenti was exercising the archbishop of Canterbury shortly before the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth. When the primate fell off the vibrating machine and landed on his head Valenti spent three sleepless nights fearing he had ruined the Coro nation. The archbishop recovered nicely. When the word was out last May that the Queen s career was finished sad Ness was rampant. On her final voyage capt. John treas ure Jones told a wire service reporter we used to Call her Queen of the seas. 1 guess a lot of people still Call her that. She is a Fine ship no doubt about that. But she s run her course. She s had her Day. It is terribly sad. I try not to thin about it. I d like to keep her a Happy ship As Long As i can. But All Good thing must come to an end. She can t go on forever you  Page 12 the stars and stripes Friday october 13, 1967 the stars and stripes Page 13