The Washington times., 1917-03-22

fleets activities Is OF more than aca-
demic interest to American yachts
men. The United States Government
indeed has already begun to expert
ment with similar craft and to study
the methods employed.
Destroyers Hunt In Pack.
The British submarine destroyers
hunt in packs. When one Of the pack
sights the foe word is flashed to the
rest of the fleet. All the boats in
that division Immediately put on
speed and rush to the point where the
enemy was flushed. There the de-
stroyers begin to work slowly out
ward along the various radii of .
great circle, their speed being regu-
lated to that of the submarine. II the
sea fox is not run down at the first
attempt, a new center Is selected, and
the maneuver is repeated. 1t Is said
that three out of every five subma-
rines sighted are captured or destroy
ed by this means.
The present American mosquito
such operations as this, though
yachtsmen say that out of the !, 500
power boats in the Atlantic coast. pa
troll about 100 could be armed and
equipped for defense within a week.
There are doubtless many more which
could be used in connection with de-
stroyers, cruisers, or battleships.
Valuable To New York.
The mobilization OF the mosquito
fleet in Gravesend Bay last Septem-
Der demonstrated 10 the satisfaction
of all concerned that even an i'm
provised amateur patrol may be OF
tremendous value to New York city.
At that time the American yachts
man proved himself to be the worthy
heir of American sea traditions. Op-
Grating in conjunction with three bat
tleships of the United States navy, the
patrol fleet stood off a night attack
by two hostile" destroyers and q
large power boat. The mosquito
fleet, working in darkness, discover
ed the presence of the incoming en-
emy and sent up rockets which led
to the theoretical sinking of the foe.
The small craft also. detected the
presence of five belligerent subma-
rines and promptly sank or captured
them, with great gusto.
The personnel OF the mosuito feet
includes many prominent American
yachtsmen. 1t Is interesting to OBJ
serve that the names commonly asso-
ciated with the luxuries of peace are
those now closely associated with the
grim realities OF war. There is an
element OF dramatic fitness in the
spectacle Of the nations wealthiest
men defending the nations wealthiest
city from attack. But so long as the
high cost OF yachting endures the
average citizen will have to content
himself with doing his bit on dry
land. while the defense of the sea
coast Is left to those who can afford
It.
Would Mobilize At Once.
II war comes the mosquito fleet
will be mobIlized at once. The classi-
fication Of patrols will probably be
made along the lines laid down last
summer. Under this plan the units
are divided into four classes. The
boats OF Glass A must have a speed
of twenty statute miles per hour.
must be seaworthy. must be able to
house four men, must be self-sustain-
ing for forty-eight hours and have
a cruising radius of 100 miles, must
be sufficiently stable to carry a one
FOUNDER and be fitted with mast and
yards for signalling. Class B Is the
same as Class A, except as to speed. a
speed Of ten miles an hour being re-
Quired. Class c consists OF boats
suitable 70" work In bays or harbors.
with 6 cru .ng radius of fifty miles
and q speed of fifteen miles an hour.
These boats would carry a machine
gun or Colts automatic. Glass D in
cludes all boats outside OF the first
three divisions which may be accepted
by naval officers after due inspec-
tion. go
Among the yacht owners who would
be included in the mobilization of
small craft are August Belmont. jr..
William ziegler. Jr.. r A. G. Smith,
Clinton II. Crane. Hermann Oelrichs,
Harold s. Vanderbilt, B. II. Borden, r.
B. Roosevelt. Simon F. Rothschild.
Harold I. Pratt and many other well
known men OF this vicinity.