The Washington times., 1917-03-22
Employed, With Scout Craft, by
England as a Defense Against
Submarines.
MOSQUITO FLEET FOR U. S.
Swift. Light Draught Motor
Boats Will Defend New York
HWar Comes.
By JOHN WALLACE.

NEW YORK, Mar. 22.-In comment
ing upon the harbor defenses of New
York a military expert said recently
that 1t would be a comparatively
simple matter for an enemy subma-
rine to run the forts whose guns
point only seaward and penetrate
the upper bay. The only defense that
the metropolis could have in such cir
cumstance would be afforded by the
mosquito fleet" OF fast privately
owned motor boats which was organ
lied last fall for just such a purpose.
New conditions of offensive war
fare have been succeeded invariably
by new conditions OF defense. The
thrust begets the parry. The Merri-
mac found its proper adversary in
the Monitor. The query of heavy
ordinance has been met by the an
swer of tougher armor plate. Hence
the submarine. which Teutonic des-
peration has brought to a high state
OF grim effectiveness, has produced,
by reason of its very perfection. new
ingenuitles of defense. Among the
counter measures adopted. or rather
evolved. in the deadly battle against
NhC bndl VI lno bIIAAA
craft whose chiefest assests are speed
and light draft:
Plan Proves Effective.
Probably we shall not know until
the end Of the war just how Great
Britain. the prime opponent OF under
sea warfare. came to formulate the
mosquito fleet defense. One report is
to the effect that a British naval Of
ficer, sent to this country on q rowing
commission, found the idea tucked
away In the brain OF an American
motor boat builder. That version Is
as good as another, and thoroughly
plausible. Most OF the basic inven-
tions now in use abroad. including the
submarine. the aeroplane and the
modern battleship. originated in the
United States. In support OF this
theory is the fact that American boat
builders have filled large orders for
the British government. one firm
alone building some $50 submarine
destroyers in as many days.
However the plan originated, its
effectiveness has been largely DEM
onstrated. Thus when the agitation
for preparedness began In this coun-
try naval officers proceeded to take
stock of privately owned American
motor boats with q view to their mob.
ilization as a patrol fleet. The yachts
men themselves had already express
ed a willingness to serve the Gov
ernment in time of need. As early
as February, 1914, a power squadron
had been formed at the request of
the Navy Department, with Roger
Upton of, the Boston Yacht Club as
commander. Thus. even before the
great war began, the idea OF develop
Ing an auxiliary mosquito fleet had
occurred to American yachtsmen
working in conjunction with the naval
authorities.
"sea waspo Carries Sting.
Roughly speaking, the usefulness
of a patrol fleet operating against
submarines is OF two kinds, depend
ing upon the equipment OF the boats
involved. In the first place there is
the self-sufficIent sea wasp" which
carries an effective sting in the
shape of a gun heavy enough to sink
its foe. Then there is the type Of
motor boat which, being seaworthy.
Is fitted for scout duty but which
must depend upon some base ship
struction.
The former class OF boat Is exten-
sfvely employed by the British navy
at the present time. 1t is OF course
far more effective than the mere
scout craft and has proved a remark
able antidote for the undersea ter
ror. The typical boat OF this type
is about eighty feet long and has
speed of nineteen knots. 1t Is equip
ped with one-pound rifle, light ar
mored coming tower. searchIight
and wireless. Its speed makes II an
extremely difficult target. Moreover,
its three foot draft renders 1t practi-
cally immune from torpedo attack,
as a torpedo4 to be accurate must
operate at a depth of at least five
feet.
In view OF our present crisis with
Germany, with its continuing threat