New Britain herald., 1917-02-02
MOSQUITO CRAFT
 TO CHASE U-BOATS
America Has Large Fleet Ready
 for This Purpose

New York, Feb 2.-In the event of war being declared it is believed gen. erally that all power craft useful as auxiliaries to the navy will be i'm ! pressed into service at once. as sub- marine chasers and for many other purposes. Fortunately an excellent foundation exists on which to develop that branch of defense, for the pre- paredness campaign of the last two years has resulted in many craft being built for the purpose.
 1achtsmen and motor boat en- thusiasts, realizing the possibility of combining sport and naval prepared ness in motor boats have ordered more such craft than England had at any time during the first year of the war, and nearly twice as many nave been ordered since the yachting season closed last autumn, in addition to which half dozen organizations nave been formed to arouse interest In this line of naval preparedness.
 The power boat division of the navel craft enrolled for the drills held off the coast from' Philadelphia to Boston last September and in addition to that the United States patrol squadron, with six special submarine chasers, went through a series of drills that lasted practically all summer
 The United States power squadrons, with more than 500 power boats en- rolled and more han 700 members, every one of whom has passed fairly stiff examination in seamanship, navi- gation, boat drills and other useful lines, is in a position to provide off, cers and crews for a good sized mos quito fleet.
 2,25O Men Await Call.
 More than 2,25o civilians took the course in training aboard the war ships last summer, and many of them later showed their ability aboard the power boats during the maneuvers in which the craft took part. If occa- full for the operation of the great mosquito fleet sure to come into existence If needed.
 As regards the facilities for building large mosquito fleet in this country, nothing but the call for them is neces- sary. The Motor Boat show, now in progress in the Grand Central Palace, yesterday was the center of activity
 
 paredness and all the yacht builders were enthusiastic regarding their ability to meet any demand that might be made.
 American Builders Experienced.
 The builders of craft suitable for naval patrol work outlined their possi- bilities in the way of turning out scout as follows: 5-~
 Henry R. sutphen of the Elco com pany. said: We turned out 500 motor boats for the Allies last year. They were so feet long and had a speed of nineteen or twenty knots, with a cruising radius of between 2, 1000 and 5000 miles. They are equipped with motors of 500-horse power, and in some cases we turned out three complete boats a day.
 What we did last year we can do a gain, and better. I can say that nothing is so effective for fighting sub- sea craft as speedy motor boats, and that has been demonstrated abroad
 The Greenport Construction com- pany. which has the warlike looking scout cruiser Chingachgook In the show, has built many similar craft TOT the Russian government and now has eleven such 60-fo oters, capable or a speed of 29 miles an hour nearing completion, as we'll as half dozen other craft ready to go into commis- zion, including No. 10, the un1ted states torpedo boat, which showed speed of more than 40 miles an hour last week; a 72-footer for o. G. Jen- oings. and his older craft, the Wnlp- pet. They can deliver one craft .a week like the Chingachgook. accord
 f1, exhibit.
 George Lawley, one of the fore most builders, said he had five boats under construction with speed oI from twenty-two to twenty-five miles an hour. and that his company could turn out one hundred scout cruisers from 50 to 60 feet in length, with speed of better than twenty miles an hour, in ten months, but they would not have the same piano box finish ms regular boats have.
 J. B. Brodie, chief engineer or the welin Marine Equipment company which exhibits section of steel motor boat particularly suited to naval use, | said:
 we have thirty pontoon towing 1 steel launches. armor plated, In stock and several steel motor yachts ana vessels under construction | at present.
 "As regards steel submarine chasers l fifty or sixty feet in length We are pre- pared to turn out a first lot of three 1 pr four in three months, and then | three or four a week thereafter, with | speeds of twenty or more miles an hour, as required, and the only ques ton about delivery would depend upon getting the motors on time. I under stand there will be no difficulty along 1 that line, however"
 HUGHES FOR WILSON