The BRITANNIC when she first came out was fitted with a novelty in the shape of a “lifting propeller.” This propeller was a patent of the late Sir Edward Harland, senior partner of the firm by whom the BRITANNIC was built. In long ships the pitching in a heavy sea, and the vertical motion of the waves, tend to expose the upper portion of the propeller, the evil effects arising from this being the “racing” of the engines and its attendant dangers, together with a diminished speed. Sir Edward Harland believed that a propeller which could be worked at any depth, and which did not require the stoppage of the vessel whilst it was being raised or lowered, would reduce these risks to a minimum, if it did not entirely remove them. In actual practice, however, it was found that the advantages of the new principle did not compensate for its disadvantages, and, after a fair trial had been given to it, it was abandoned in favour of the old style of screw. In a letter, dated 3rd December, 1874, addressed to the late Mr. W. S. Lindsay, Messrs. Ismay, Imrie & Co. state:—“The average speed of the BRITANNIC is fifteen knots per hour on a consumption of 75 to 80 tons of coal per day, and her approximate cost, built without contract, is £200,000.” From 1873 until 1884 the White Star Line maintained its position as the fastest fleet on the Atlantic, a result to which the BRITANNIC and GERMANIC contributed in no small degree. In September, 1890, the BRITANNIC eclipsed her own previous record of 7 days 9½ hours, by crossing from New York to Queenstown in 7 days 6 hours 55 minutes, at an average speed of 16·80 knots. The following year (September, 1891) she surpassed even this rapid passage, by making the run from New York to Queenstown in 7 days 6 hours 52 minutes. While employed by H.M. Government to convey troops during the late war in South Africa, she made the run from Queenstown to the Cape in 19 days, a speed surpassed by few of the transports engaged. In August, 1891, the GERMANIC following in the track of her sister ship, travelled from New York to Queenstown in 7 days 7 hours 37 minutes, at an average speed of 16·10 knots per hour. When it is remembered that this high speed (nearly nineteen statute miles per hour) was attained by vessels over 20 years old, with their original compound engines and boilers, it will be acknowledged that, having regard to their small coal consumption and large carrying capacity, the BRITANNIC and GERMANIC have given results unattainable with the fastest ships of the present day. The GERMANIC in 1895 received new engines and boilers, and had her passenger quarters entirely remodelled on the plan of the MAJESTIC and TEUTONIC. In July of that year she crossed from Queenstown to New York in 6 days 23 hours 45 minutes, and in August of the year following in 6 days 21 hours and 38 minutes, thus showing a substantial increase of speed.