Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-04
PHILADELPHIA YACHTS
TO SERVE AS PATROLS
IN EVENT OF WAR
Citizens Who Believe in AIDE
quate Defense Building YES
sells for Cooperation With
u. S. Navy
RANK FOR THE OWNERS

Private yachts so constructed that
they can do coast patrol service in time
of war are being built in accordance with
government specifications for half dozen
wealthy Pniladelphians who believe in
adequate national defense. The vessels
will be made for speed. equipped with
guns, wireless and powerful scHrchlight
and have been designed to withstand the
shock caused by the firing Of the guns
which will be mounted on their decks.
Those for whom these boats arc being
made are Edward T. Stotesbury, John r.
Fell, John Price Wetherill, Jr, Samuel
H. Collom, Samuel u. Riddle and Anton
Ahlers. All OF the craft will have been
completed by the middle of summer, and
II is expected that they will be enlisted
In the Government reserve and share in
the civilian training cruise arranged by
the Navy Department for the last OF
August and the beginning Of September
The vessels will be manned by trained
seamen from the United states navy ana
will he directly in command of their own
ers upon whom the rank Of ensign VIII be
conferred by the Government
In time OF war the yachts Will he eX-
pected TO do the work now being done
with great efficiency by approximately
5000 privately owned vessels I'm England
which are patrolling the coast Watching
for submarines. 1t Is said the German
undersea boats have found these yachts |
their greatest menace.
-Four of these Philadelphia owned ships
are being built at the yards of smith ana
williams at Salisbury, Md, and all are |
designed along lines mapped out In ac-
cordance with Government specifications |
by j. Murray Watts Of this city. who is |
an official of the Corinthian Yacht club. |
PHILADELPHIA IN FOREFRONT.
Philadelphia yachtsmen. It is believed.
will be we'll in the forefront in the private |
patrolling squadron in tho naval cruise
this summer, for scores of owners OF small
boats have signifed their willingness to
enrol themselves and their little ships.
Tbera are hundreds of Philadelphia
owned craft eligible to enter this squadron
But the new yachts now being built viii
be the most useful in time of war. All OF
them are similar in construction, ana
their cost win run from $4,000 to 100000
according to size They will be much
faster than the.larger craft now owned by
some residents of the Quaker City, for
they will be able to make an average
sreed of 20 knots an hour
MENACE TO SUBMARINES
They will be able to travel in almost
oerfect safety as far rs tOrpedoes are con-
cerned but they will be a great menace
TO enemy submarines. They VIII lie so
lightly in the water that the undersea
boats will find it almost impossible to hit
them, for a torpedo cannot travel very
close to the surface of the water
Every one of these boats will have
rapid fire gun mounted on its forward or
after deck and will have several machine |
guns aboard. The rapd-1ire guns VIII
cast a 3-pound shot which will do serious
damage If 1t strikes Il submarine. The
cnly way that the submarine could at
tack the yachts, according to Mr. Watts,
would be by rising to the surface and get
ting its guns into action. But while In
the process of rising it would be absolutely
at the mercy of the yacht, he asserts.
One of the new Philadelphia boats has
been finished. the Shark II, tho
57-foot craft Of Samuel II. COLON. who
with Messrs. Stotesbury, Fell, Riddle and !
wetherlll Is a member of the Corinthian |
Yacht Club, composed Of the wealthicst
water sportsmen in the city.
BOATS AVERAGE 80 TONS.
These boats will average 80 tons. Tho \
largest is that ordered by John T. Fell. !
who is a stcp-son Of Alexander Van Rens- I
5elaer for eight years commodore of the d
Club and one of the most en-
.husiastic of local yacht enthusiasts.
This vessel is the Dorothea, and will meas
lre 75 feet inches. The Durothea was
launched Tuesday of last week at the !
Smith & Williams yard. ;
The yacht Of Anton Ahlers, a member !
of the Keystone Yacht Club is being built
1n the Delaware and will be launched
this month. II is the Tille A. H. and /
will measure 63 feet in length
Mr.. Stotesburys boat will be called the
Sedeva II, and is being constructed by
he Essington Shpbuildlng Company. 1t =
will be so feet in length
Littleaie is the name selected for Mr..
Wetherilrs yacht. 81 feet in length, being
by the Salisbury firm. The
yacht of Samuel D. Riddle, of Glen Rid
lie, is 40 feet in length and will be named =
7ollyanna. II, too, is being built in Sails
bury.
Other Philadelphlans are owners of
arge boats which, while not as fast as
hose now under process CG construction.
would nevertheless be servlceable in time
Il war should the owners care to offer
hem. The biggest yacht in this city is =