Lost Leader

The U.S. torpedoed its big bid for supremacy in the transatlantic luxury liner trade last week. By order of the Defense Department, the U.S. Lines' supership United States, now building in Newport News, Va., will be completed as a troop transport.

Touted as a rival of Cunard's two Queens, the $70 million United States was designed primarily as a naval vessel. She will be fitted to carry 14,000 troops at 30 knots (fast enough to outrun submarines). Also marked for completion as troopships last week were three passenger-cargo liners being built by the American President Lines, the 13,000-ton Presidents Jackson, Adams, and Hayes.

But the Government did not take over American Export Lines' 26,000-ton Constitution, which was launched in Quincy, Mass, last week. Unlike the United States, the 1,000-passenger Constitution was designed primarily as a commercial vessel, although she has many defense features. With her sister ship, the Independence, the $25 million Constitution will enter service between New York and the Mediterranean early next year.

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