A Cunard ocean liner built in France is used to criticize Britain's loss of suitable domestic shipbuilding capacity. The account says Cunard could not find a British yard to build the ship and that the government accepted construction abroad. Passenger ships are also potential sources of vessels taken up from trade in wartime. The criticism links a commercial construction decision with national prestige and the merchant fleet's possible naval support role.
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Cunard's overseas construction and wartime merchant support
A short Cunard example connects domestic shipbuilding capacity with the wartime value of passenger ships.