The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-09-05
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Best Service Column in City.

An appropriation of s25o,Ooo for sub
marine equipped with the Nef system
OF submarine propulsion is attracting
considerable attention in naval circles
Submarine boats have two units Of
power-the internal combustion or heavy
oil engines for surface cruising, and the
electric storage battery and motor equip
ment for submerged navigation. As the
space in a submarine Is very limited,
these units encroach-on each other, re-
sulting in compromise in space and
weight occupied by each, greatly to the
detriment apd loss of efficiency of both
systems.
Besides, the storage batteries have
proved very dangerous, inefficient, and
expensive. The unanimous opinion OF
submarine builders is that where storage
battery equipment can be discarded. the
safety. efficiency. reliability, economy Of
operation, and durability can be increased.
The Neff system OF submarine propul-
sion was developed with a view to fur
nishing a single or unit power and pro-
pelling plant for use on all types of sub
marines whether travelling on the sur
tace or submerged.
This system Is based on experimental
work conducted by the L. A. Submarine
Boat Company, of Long Beach, Cal The
, company constructed a 75-foot model
for trial purposes. The complete pro-
pulsion system is the result Of uniting
numb#r OF improvements with the orig
insl f. atuIes OF this experimental boat.
tpon completion OF this boat in the
SUMMER OF 1913 Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels appointed a trial board to con-
duct tests and report upon its operation.
practical advantages, and adaptability for
naval requirements. The success Of this
experimental work is indicated in the fol-
lowing paragraph from the report of the
trial board:
'As result of the runs made the board
considers that the ventilation of the oil
engines, while submerged both at rest
and under way, was satisfactorily dem
onstrated. The ventilation Of the boat
under all conditions was found to be ex-
cellent. The action OF the propellers as
located on either side near the bow was
shown to improve control Of the boat, and
this will no doubt lessen the tendency of
the boat to dive at higher speeds II was
noted that during the run very little ma
nipulaton OF the diving rudder was nee
essary to maintain control Of the boat,
and, further. when the boat was trimmed
by the. head the action OF the propellers
while going ahead overcame the trim and
brought her up by the head 10 a marked
degree.
The War Department soon will issue a
call for bids for the construction OF fifty
aeroplanes for training purposes. The
machines will be Of two types-one for
primary training and the other for ad-
vanced training. Both classes Of ma
chimes will be OF the two-place biplane
typ with one fusilage, equipped with
one motor, and capable Of carrying a
pilot and a passenger.
The primary machines will carry gaso-
line. water and oil necessary for a flight
OF three hours duration. and the ad-
vanced machines for a flight OF four
hours duration. The primary machines
will have a motor ranging between 70
and 30 horsepower. and the motor for
the advanced machines will be rated be-
tween 30 and Ito horsepower The phi
mary machines will be required to have
a safe horizontal speed OF not more than
thirty-seven miles an hour and a maxi
mum horizontal high speed OF not less
than siXty-six miles an hour. The ad-
vanced machines must have a safe low
horizontal speed OF not more than forty
three miles an hour. and a maximum
horizontal high speed Of seventy-ive
miles an hour.
Enough Of the ma chimes will be sent 70
( the Signal Corps Aviation School at San
| Diego, Cal, to give that school fifty
! training machines. including the service
able ones already in operation there. The
remainder will be sent to the new flying
schools at Chicago and Mineola
Orders likewise soon will be placed for
four captive balloons for the lighter
than-air unit 10 be organized at Fort Sill.
Okla. to which four officers and eighty
enlisted men OF the aviation reserve
corps OF the army will be assigned