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136 deck, stanchions and heavy columns 'are fitted, thus insuring great longi- tudinal and vertical stiffening of the whole structure. The deck beams as- sist to the same end transversely, and have been made especially strong. Even where there are openings for the boilers and machinery an equally great degree of structural strength is im- parted by the use of girders in the longi- tudinal and transverse lines, supported again on heavy columns. | There are 16 transverse bulkheads, five of which extend to a height of over 40 ft. above the deepest load- line, while all the others are~ carried to'a height of over 21 ft. above the water line. The bulkheads are of very heavy construction, the aim being not to economize weight, but rather to insure the maximum of strength by a careful distribution of it where it is most required. The ~stern framing and the brackets for carrying the three propellers are of very massive con- struction, a fact which is established by the total weight of the forgings and castings, viz., over 300 tons. The rudder, too, weighs over 102 tons, and is operated by Messrs. Harland -& Wolff's steering gear, which has a toothed quadrant, operated to port or starboard by means of two powerftd three-cylinder engines, as large almost as those for the propulsion of a fair- sized cargo boat. The engines are in duplicate, so that there is no possibili- ty of the breakdown of one preventing the steering of the ship. Provision is also made for taking up any shock due to a green sea striking the stern of the ship, as this might otherwise affect the steering machinery. Nine Decks in the Ship There are nine decks in the ship, on six of which accommodation is pro- vided for over 2,500 passengers, in- cluding 790 in the first class and 830 in the second class. A feature of the accommodation is that a large number of the first class staterooms are single- berth rooms. In practically every case, whether a single or a _ double-berth room, there is in connection with each a bathroom and closet or a shower bath and closet. A large number of special suite rooms are arranged on the bridge and shelter decks. In ad- dition, there are two special suites, these including a sitting room, two bedrooms, servants' rooms, bath rooms, etc. Connected with the suite on the starboard side of the vessel there is an isolated verandah about 25 feet long, while that on the port side has an isolaated deck promenade about 50 feet long. Extending through the first class passenger decks there are two large companionways. In that for- THE MARINE REVIEW. ward there are three electric elevators extending right up to the boat deck, while further aft, but independent of the companionways, is another first class elevator. As regards the public rooms there are on the bridge deck a large gym- nasium and a children's playroom. On the promenade deck, the next level, a feature of the vessel is that the plating is carried up the side and has large windows to enable either a win- ter garden to be arranged or to pro- vide for passengers a sheltered prom- enade with a complete view of the sea. The public rooms on this level include a reading and writing room and a first class lounge, as well as a first class smoking room with veran- dah. "cate .and: "palm=court: bridge deck aft there is the a la carte On _ the April, 1914 nasium on the shelter deck, where also there is an extensive promenade. A smoking room and large space for promenade are also provided on the bridge. deck. The third class public rooms are in thé stern of the ship, except the dining saloons, which occy- py the space of two watertight com- partments' on the middle deck amid- ships. The length of these two rooms combined is 100 ft. and they extend the full width of the ship. The com- panionways for the third class passen- gers are greatly increased in number as compared with the practice in the past. Many new features have been intro- duced in connection with sanitation. Probably for the first time in a seq- going vessel an effort has been made to depart from the methods which LAUNCHING THE BRITANNIC restaurant (the full width of the ship), with pantry, etc. The next level, the shelter deck, is, so far as first class Passengers are concerned, taken up entirety with staterooms, while on the deck below is the dining saloon and the reception room in connection with it, the two together occupying nearly 200 ft. of the length of the ship. On a still lower deck there are Turkish and electric baths, racquet court and a swimming bath. The second class accommodation is little inferior to that of first class, and is equally adequate. It is arranged mediately abaft the first class quarters, with a companionway and electric ele- vator extending right up to the boat deck. The dining saloon is on the saloon deck, and the library and read- ing room and the second class gym- have been handed down from the be- ginning of ship building. Instead of an enormous number of soil discharge pipes from 'lavatories, etc, on each side of the ship, the arrangement adopted simulates, in each compart- ment, the conditions applicable to the best town-planning system, with the assistance of electric pumps. The hot water system also has had special con- sideration, and is such that immediately a tap is turned on hot water is obtain- able, instead of a large quantity of cold water preceding the flow of warm water. Thus there is great saving in the fresh water supply, an important desideratum on board ship where any shortage must be made up by distill- ing. In respect of ventilation, too, ex- perience has been very carefully col-