New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-30
YACHT OWNERS
NAVY ROCKIES
Amateur Sailor Men Want
plattsburg Idea Extend
ed TO Coast Defence.
TAKE FIRST STEPS
FOR NAVAL AUXILIARY
Told How Motor Boats Might
Fight Submarines and Aid
Regulars as Scouts.

~. humorous uses Of the small
.,or boat in time Of war were out
lined yesterday to members OF the
waterways League. Of New York. at
chair annual regatta At the Jamaica Bay
Yacht Club. at Rockswsy Beach. by
Lieutenant Ralph Payne Craft. U. S. N.
AT the meeting, which was attended
nv more than a score Of commodores
~ the smaller yacht clubs in greater
N.w York and Long Island that have
membership in the league, first steps
toward the organization Of small
Aost naval reserve we're taken. 1t Is
,1pested that recognition Of the plan
vrll bs made shortly by the Navy De-
pArtment.
Speaking unoficially, I would say
.b.. the idea Of the Waterways League
4, ,n excellent one" said Lieutenant
craft "In time Of war there would be
,s,d for every available motor boat
along the Atlantic Coast perhaps
Each vessel could be assigned to ser
vice Of some kind, and owners II the!
"a rece;ved even a small amount OF
naval training, would De OF li'iie''N
hereft 70 their country.
:. js the intention of the Waterways
1.oo,,e 20 have the members OF the
.i,bs in the organization trained IN
- military and naval tactics. so that
- Immense feet of small craft would
% -arned by competent men 70 act
So.,reen land and naval forces along
-. .oost should such a necessity arise
I",Jro6 nv the military instruction
esn,p at Plattsburg, the yachtsmen are
Setsrnined 70 train themselves 10 DE
n similar service 10 the navy
Aid Against Submarines.
A. carriers Of dispatches, signal
hos,s and scouts for harbors and IN
i."o streams. Lieutenant Craft said the
Tor boat would play an inestimaole
w. Members Of the waterways
fsayue wanted TO know OF what aVsli
tSev would be as defence against suo-
me- aO N, some Of the underseas boats Of
foreign powers" ne said "a three-lneh
gpn Is mounted; but three-incn gun
= a big gun, and no light vessel coulo
survive after It had been hred once
fron her decks. do not know how Dig
vour largest motor boats are, but am
syTe thew are not Of sufficient strength
10 stand their fire. =,
0Tba LARGER boats, however, coulo
easily carry one-pound gun, ana nre
fron1 such would be effective against a
submarine, provided you fred hrst ana
Sred true. The automatic gun agalns,s,
a submarine is Of questionable value.
Owners Of motor boats, he added
should understand thoroughly the
handling of small arms. lie sala nc
Also thought they might apply mem mem
selves 10 studying the lnterh9V'ois..
wig-wagging and semaphore codes OF
communication between vessels.
Yachtsmen Enthusiastic.
Thu vsehtsmen were enthusiastic over
The nlsn for q naval auxiliary. II the
venture is practicable in New YORK e.
forts will be made to enlist yacht cIupS
Ling the entire coast in a great league
1ones would be established, Il was sug-
gssted in which the resident motor
boat and yacht owners would 1amlilar-
;vs themselves with every harbor' river,
cyeek ard marsh, filing and tabulatlhg
sueb data as might be Of use 10 inc
navy. ,. % Tho
Nv YORK Navy Yard. has been inter
s.tad in the formation Of the "ater-
ways WAYS, League, and Josephus G Jan eS
Secretary Of the Navy has unoet S So
vjsement at present the matter OF ee-
failing naval officers as instructors Tor
the yachtsmen. ~ ..oror-
It is planned to have weekly en n;a1tpp
nsnts next year, similar to the Plstts,
bnTg school, at which the owners OF
motor boats will be trained In the pos
sibis uses Of their craft in war III times .S.
FHngbam Wilson, commander OF ths
Jamaica Bay Yacht Club, said his or
gsni1ation was willing to do whatever
fsy In Us power TO further the cause OF
tIs proposed defence plan asra w VI go1
Moran. chairman OF tne Dosfu "a s
Major MAJOR George Cochran, 18th Rsgiment;
D. Il. Ralston, chief clerk Of the Kings
County Court, and others who ATTENDED