New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-11
Naval Advisers Call
OnU. S. for Great
Mosquito Fleet
Secret Station for Experiments
Established Somewhere
on the Coast

ed a resolution calling upon the Ohi'eu
States TO begin Immediately the con-
struction and equipment OF large
MOSQUITO feet of light draft WOODEN
motor boats for the protection OF
American coasts and harbors against
submarine attacks.
A new type of mosquito craft, 1t was
announced, has just been invented py
an American. As a corollary TO its res
olution, the board recommended tha'
this new type of craft be tried out oy
the Navy Department
Other matters of great signincance
TO the nations defence considered oy
the board included;
1-Establishment Of station LOT
special experiments somewhere on 'ne
coast of the United States IL was
ofscislly announced that this station
has actually been established, and tnSt
Lawrence Addicks, DR.. ". r. whitney
r. G. Lamme. Elmer f. Sperry and A.
NJ Hunt "have been specially directed
bv the board TO take charge OF certain
functions of the work
Edison Is Life President
Election OF Thomas A. Edison as
president of the board for lie. Inc
report was contradicted that MT Luz
son had considered resigning from tne
board, and il was announced INA, no
Rad been unable 20 attend yesterday
meeting because he IS worKlhg eIsn
teen hours a day on government ih'e"-
tions. So.
3-Consideration Of new methods ior
detecting and locating submarines anu
announcement that the boards com
mittee on special problems has started
a series of experiments on under
water detection by electric, magnetic
and electromagnetic means.
a-Consideration of other metnods
for defending vessels against suoma-
rine attacks.
b-presentation of reports on meth
ods of improving torpedoes and on the
development of internal combustion
motors.
6-Presentation of report BY Hudson
hdNiNl OU lAhBiNfNN
structing big guns.
MOSQUITO Fleet Is Urged
The resolution calling for a large
MOSQUITO fleet, which is CONSIDERED a.
the most important action taken yes
terday by the board, reads:
"The Naval Consulting Board, az lts
meeting held in New York on Marcn
10. is unanimously of the opinion tnai
a large feet of light draft, hign, spee,d
motor boats, carrying guns, ana punt
preferably Of wood, because OF tne op-
portunity it gives for quick eohsIruc
tion. should be provided at the earliess :
possible moment for the protecIlon .,
the coasts and harbors OF the Oniteu
States and for vessels traVeiiins
thereon
Although the official announcemen
of the boards proceedings dld hoI
comment on the resolution, memoer
of the board stated at the close OF tnc
session that. in MS opinion, IRON
zoo TO 1000 special mosquito cra'
should be constructed by the govern
ment.
The type in which the board IS par
ticularly interested Is such thAt N'
parts could be built in wholesale guam
tities-as the parts OF foro auIoihV, ,
biles are made, for example and could
be assembled quickly. As an Illus
tration of the rapidity with WhiSh
boats built in this fashion can D.
made. il was pointed out that an amer
lean firm in Canada recently eorlpIs'eu
$50 similar small craft for Engisho III
500 days. ~ T
"The same company" said ". i.
Saunders, chairman OF the oosrd'
now in a position 20 build tnree oi
these light motor boats every dsy.
Nncb of the boards time yesterday
MAS given over 70 the discussion OF sub,
marines and torpedoes. Not only dld
the board hear reports on many phases
NJ this problem, but IL also recon =
mcnded 70 the Navy Department tina,
certain important experiments relat-
ing thereto be approved
To Conserve Glass Supply
special committee, with DR.. l.. H.
Baekland as its head. was appointed 70
conserve the raw material from "hloi.
optical glasses are made. many o.
these glasses, up to the opening OF tne
war, came TO America from Germany
There is in this country, however sur
ficient raw material TO supply the army
and navy with all necessary lenses
providing il is properly conserved a
new committee on metallurgy was ap'
pointed. with Professor Joseph W.
Richards, of Lehigh University. as lts
chairman.
Present at the meeting yesterday
we're Lawrence Addicks, l. II. Back
land. LEROY William Emmet. DR.. Peter
Cooper Hewitt. Andrew Murray Hunt
DR.. Miller r. Hutchison, B. G. Lamme
Hudson Maxim. Spencer Miller, Pro-
lessor Joseph ". Richards. Andrew l.
Riker. Thomas Robins, W. L. Saunders
Matthew Bacon Sellers, Frank j
Sprague, B. B. Thayer, DR.. Arthur G
Wahs.er Dr. " z Whitney and DR.