The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-11-10
SIR THOMAS Upton
HAS AN IDEA
Says More Yacht Racing In America
Would Lead to a Better
Navy.

NEW YORK, Nov. 81 The United
States would have an even stronger
navy than it has at present, according
to Sir Thomas Upton, if yacht rae
ing were more popularity followed as
recreation. The Irish viking, If he
may be SO called, expressed the great
est admiration for Uncle Sans navy,
admiring particularly the strong, well
proportioned 1ackies who comprise the
crews. More than armor plate, pow
erful engines and destructive guns, it
ts on men that the real strength OF
navy is founded. Thoroughly cap
able seamen, strong experienced and
self-reliant can, with mediocre equip
ment, Sir Thomas said. scatter great
fleet poorly manned, as the nor wester
scatters the foam over the waves.
Here is where his conclusion is for
mulated.
Repeating his admiration for Unit
ed States seamen, the great yachtman
pointed out the fact that very smaa
per cent of them are thoroughly train.
ed Most of them are from inland
towns and cities, men who in many
instances never saw a battleship or
any other craft larger than canoe or
q river barge before enlisting in the
navy service. In England no such
situation obtains and the English
fleet is among the best Young men
of Germany are able to spend con
siderable time on the water, and are
real seamen when they enlist. The
German navy has few rivals for all
around efficiency.
ITO my mind" said Sir Thomas,
yacht racing, besides being the
cleanest and most healthful sport in
the world. is a good thing for a ma
ton to foster 1t breeds in young men
love for the sea that prepares them
for the navy in time of war. Look
at Germany. for instance. In that
country the yachting game is nation
ally encouraged. The kaiser sets the
example by taking personal inter-
est in the sport, and as a consequence
there are lot of young chaps of the
right sort taking to the sea as a duck
takes to its pond. They go in for the
sport OF it and stay in for the love
Of 1t. From the decks of their yachts
| they go to the quarterdecks OF the
! kaisers warships. Germany's power
on the sea is, believe accounted for
in large measure by the fact that
yachting is made SO popular"
Sir Thomas related an amusing
] anecdote. During the coronation re-
view at Spithead he was entertaining
| a party of friends, among Thorn sew.
eral Americans, on board his yacht.
Sailing along the line of the great
hattieships. Upton thought to enter
tan his guests by pointing out and
describing the various ocean bulldogs.
He waxed eloquent, but aroused no
enthusiasm. Finally in last desper-
ate effort to bring some remark of
admiration from the Americans, he
pointed to the biggest, most imposing
ship In the lone line, and exclaimed
proudly:
There, look at that!'
The Americans looked
Yes said one OF them quietly,
that is the Delaware, one of our
smaller warships."
q looked added Sir Thomas, land
sure enough, there was the stars and
stripes floating from the Flagstaff.
had to stop talking then
Sir Thomas is busily trying to ar
range another international match
race for the Americas cup. He will
probably succeed in arranging for the
race. 1t will be his fourth attempt
to lift the cup from American shores.