Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-20

man in the Administration. II In well
known that Gerard has some definite IDEAS
on the approaching trouble As related two
weeks ago. these ideas embrace three sug-
gestions
First A Tightening up OF American
relations with England and an in
slstence by this Government that
Britain cease to violate international
law.
Second. The construction Of feet
OF 1000 submarine destroyers to show
Germany that the American coast
would not be helpless before the attack
of German submarines.
Third. The construction of we'll
equipped and powerful aviation service,
able to do duty I'm scouting for sub
marines.
What the Administration will do in re-
gard TO the first suggestion remains to be
seen II is a sort of preventive suggestion
and IL seems entirely probable that after
tho November election some such step Will
fe taken despite the fact that the state
Department is sure that such protest to
Great Britain would avail nothing.
The other two suggestions are anticl-
patory OF conditions that might arise II
complications with Germany should come.
The recent activity of the German sub
marine U-53 has been Interpreted In some
quarters as Germany's warning as TO what
might happen should the United states De-
como involved in the war. This submarine
and the Deutschland showed that they
could enter two of the most vulnerable
ports in the United States without observa-
tion and II is said that Germany's inten-
tIon was TO have the United States observe
that It's own shores were not invulneraole
TO attack
DEsTRoYERS POWERFUL WEAPON
II has been found in England that the
so-called submarine destroyers, known IN
| time OF peace as motorboats, nave hunteu
down more submarines than all the British
warships and nets put together. Tho Navy
| Department has already built two model
| submarine destroyers as suggestion 70
| private owners who wish to build motor
| boats The Navy Department suggests that
owners follow the ideas Incorporated II
| these two boats II they wish to enroll them
| selves and their boats In the naval reserve
| OF the two boats built, one is a seventy
fve-footer and cost about ;2s,o00. Sh'
mounts six-pound gun which, II Is ex
| planned Is sufficient to put any submarine
| out Of action. The other type Of boat In .
| fifty-footer and cost only $4,000, mounting
"A three-pound gun. The department say
| that about twenty-five Of these boats will
be built by private owners this winter, with
the prospect that forty or fifty more will
| be built next year. Add to this the mum
| ber of private boats already available which
could mount guns of sufficient size TO pu
| II OUT OI NoHlIllbSlOH anu lIs
| United States would have several hundred
boats capable of use as submarine destroy
ers. The Assistant Secretary OF the Navy
while not having been apprised of Mr.. Ge
rard's plan. thinks II is q perfectly feaslbl,
and entirely desirable one He says tha
steps are now being taken to organize tn,
powerboat owners, so that they would know
Just what TO do in time OF war.
AS for Mr.. Gerard's third suggestion
II probably will be some time before 1
can be fulfilled, There are now oni,
twelve aeroplanes in active service at tn
border. Yesterday 100 more machines wer
ordered. all OF which cannot be deliyere,
for more than year. This brings tn
| total OF aeroplanes in the United State
army and navy up to fewer than l50 ma
chimes, not enough to make dent In tn
number required.
However. preparedness advocates are al
| ready planning 10 go before Congress again
this winter and urge the necessity OF
! strong aeroplane corps 1t is hoped tina
| appropriations may bo obtained for a
| least $50 machines for next year, for b,
that time tho facilities for manufacturinl
the machines will have been doubled an,
the number OF available pilots will ais,
| have Increased greatly. owing to the new
/ rules under which civilians may receiv,
| training as pilots.