Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-02-21
1000 MOTOR CRAFT
WILL GUARD U. S.
Navy Department Prepares to
| Build Patrol Fleet.
OEAOLlEsT FOE OF U BOATS

Vessels to Keep Watch on Our Coasts |
In Wartims-Could Be Built In a Few
Months-ons Hundred Ready For I'm
mediate Service.
The navy department has begun
preparations for the building OF a mo
torboat patrol fleet for defense against
German U-boats that might cross the
Atlantic to prey on shipping or to enter
American harbors In search OF battle
ships
A. Loring swasey OF Swasey. Ray
mond 4 Page. Boston ship architects.
has been called to Washington. 1t was
learned, to take charge Of the con-
struction In private shipyards Of motor
patrol boats, to be equipped with fore
and aft guns. wireless, searchlights and
unique bombing devices.
simultaneously with the call Of Mr..
Swasey TO Washington to take charge
| OF this work. Admiral Knight has noti-
/ fed the officers OF the various civilian
| patrol squadrons. composed OF private
l ~ owned motorboats, to hold their men
/ subject to call. There are 1.so0 power
boats on the Atlantic coast enrolled In
the civilian motorboat patrol organiza-
| lions. OF these probably 100 could be
armed and equipped for defensive
work against submarines and be ready
| at short notice.
One Thousand Of the Boats Needed.
Yachtsmen estimate that not fewer
than 1900 boats OF type OF which
only .o,s cS.ys a.. thc United states
today would be necessary for the
proper patrol of the coast. In view OF
the speed with which patrol boats were
built for England, 1t Is believed that
the 1000 boats could be built In much
less than a year to substitute or sup
plement the work against submarines
that may have to be done In the first
instance by private owned volunteer
craft. The United States has now two
types OF patrol boats that were con
structed for test and as guide fol
yachtsmen. One Of each type has been
constructed. and both boats. one thirty
Eve feet IN length and the other sixty
six. are capable Of doing twenty five &c
thirty miles an hour.
While the government and motorboat
men are preparing for defense acairs
submarines. the question OF netting th'
harbors has come to the front a mum
Der Of navy experts deny that 1t is es
senlial to net the harbors against TIM
possible invasion of submarines, while
Others Insist that II one submarIi
should get into IA hnrbor where Pc
ton OF the Atlantic feet Is lying L
havoc would he tremendous, rs eac-
torpedo would count to the full. 81
far as can be learned, the navy depart
ment IL inclined to rely at the start IL
any case of protection by the pauo
boats. though urged by civilian yachts
men to proceed promptly with the prep
aration OF nets for all hatbors likely Il
be frequented by any portion Of the At
Iantic fleet.
Patrol Boat Most Effective.
| Patrol boats supplemented by fets
wire and bomb devices of various kinds
have not been more than sufficient fol
England's protection against the sub
marines. While the patrol boats that
spread out In fanlike circle after q
submarine has submerged for escape
are the most effective instruments de
vised for submarine catching. 1t was
learned from reliable source that
England few weeks ago was celebrat-
ing the destruction OF the hundredth
I German submarine. This number is
great or small. according to ones point
Of view. Considered In the light Of the
difficulties Of tracking and mailing
submarines, IL would be large. But au'
thorfsies In this country agree that
Germany probably has now 300 subma'
rines, of which many are Of trans
atlantic type.
The view is rather widely Held that
there Is not great probability OF Ger
many attempting to raid American
| coasts, though II IL believed that she
would In case Of hostilities send sub
marines to attack the coastwlse ship
ping. Arthur r.. Aldridge, editor Of
| Rudder, In the course Of a recent dis.
cussion concerning the possibilities OF
our motorboat patrol. cited the fact
that $50 patrol boats' were built for
England In 535 days. N the govern:
ment on the advice OF Mr.. Swasey
should now proceed to build 3 stand
ardized motorboat patrol IT. Is believed
that the several big shipyards equipped
for such construction could beat this
record and turn out 1000 boats In
few months.