New-York tribune., 1917-04-02
Submarine Chasers
High Praise of the Patrol Boats Built
Here for England

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: So many unfair criticisms have oeeh
made in the newspapers about the Brltlsh
eighty foot patrol boats that think II only
fair TO tell some real facts about these boa''
as told by those who have handled OF see"
them These boats are the product OF Amer
can brains. they were designed ana pu'lV py
Americans, built under American supervision
and their engines are American IL Ia'"''
hurts ones feelings to find Unfair cfl''o'S"'
of American products at this time patucu'a'
ly when a similar fleet is needed ana Is 10 oe
built for home defence These boats were ue-
signed for particular purpose to hgnt '"e
submarine. The British Navy Department
nlaced the order with the Submarine Boat
Corporation partly because that compa"!'
having developed the submarine, was peS1
fitted TO determine how the submarine shou'u
be fought. In all. $50 Of these boats were
built in less than $50 days. This IN ltSeii -
feat worthy Of praise. II required the WORK
Of $4,000 men to complete the Joo' Eao"
boat is equipped with two 25o-horSepo"er
Standard engines and smaller engine oil the
same make for auxiliary purposes. lhese
engines. too. are American, and they nave
been selected to drive the boats to be built
for home defence.
Some letters, perhaps inspired through
jealousy, have been printed IN the daily
newspapers saying that the British boats are
worthless, that they could not carry their
guns and that the British realized the mis-
take they had made in having them onilt
These reports have no foundation in fact
They are carrying their guns except IN ie"
instances where the boats are being used Tor
harbor work and do not need l3-pounders'
such as the boats on of-shore work carry.
They have been very successful in the work
to which they have been assigned and those
who are handling them praise them highly
for the weathery qualities and hardness.
| have no interest in any way IN tnese
boats or their engines, and am writing this
to you because | think that it is only far
that the facts should be known. In the
past week | have received a letter from
yachtsman who has charge Of one OF THESE
patrol boats. and have talked with an Amerl-
can who has returned to this country after
several months in England. during which time
he watched the patrol boats and studied their
work. He had many opportunities to meet
those who handled the patrols.
II is only fair TO say that at first these
boats were severely criticised by the British,
but that was before they had been thoroughly
tested This is only natural. The British
builders thought that such large order
should have been placed at home, and they
were disposed to knock anything American.
We would do the same thing on this side,
under similar conditions.
This letter is from a member Of the Humber
TI,,L H. oh. nd xurita
You know how much dislike power boat
or anything to do with an engine. For several
months | have had charge Of NJ l.. 345, and
have been stationed in the North Sea. II has
been hell outside. What | dread most are
the long n ights, but thank goodness these are
getting shorter. ! am really learning to like
the boat and she has proved TO be wonder
in all kinds Of weather. What | like about
her is her weatherly qualities. She can stand
anything in the way of storms and weather
The only fault ! find is that sometimes in
heavy sea a slight leak will start in the cabin
trunk, and that always seems TO be over my
bunk. The engine, too, has done wonders and
has rever failed"
The American told me that the early criti-
csms made on the boats have disappeared
and instead he heard only words of praise for
their capabilities. He said Some of these
time without any relief the supplies being
taken out to them by other vessels. They
have withstood the winter storms and
have done great service in all kinds of
weather. They have carried their guns too
and at times these l3-pounders have been
used. As far as ! could learn, very few Of
these boats have been lost. Two ran ashore
in a fog, two were burned and few were
lost in an attack they made off the Belgian
coast. The report that they could not carry
their guns is false. 1t may have arisen from
the fact that some of the boats used for har-
Dor work have had their guns dsmounted
but this was done because they had no use
for guns of the size they were carrying There
is a natural shortage of guns in England. and
not being necessary on harbor boats or mine
draggers, they were taken off and used else
where Even the armed merchantmen have
their guns dismounted when in port, and
others mounted when they ready TO start
cut to sea again. talked with many Of the
men on these patrol boats. and while all de-
cared that their lives were not any too easy,
they had only words Of praise for the way
the boats behaved"
EDITOR, THE RUDDER."
New York, March 30, 1917.