New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
YACHTSMEN SURE
TO BE ON JOB
IF WAR COMES
Preparedness" in a Naval
Sense Has Long Been
Their WatchWOrd
BY CAPTAIN JAMES c. SUMMERS

By CAPTAIN JAMES c. SUMMERS
Yachtsmen who in summer cruise and
race on the waters of Long Island
Sound. the Hudson River. Great South
Bay and the Lower Bay arc beginning
to view the present war situation WIN
more or less alarm; not from any lack
Of courage or patriotism-for theE
would be among the first to ofter their
services 20 the government IL war -
declared-but because it would mean
the abandonment Of their favorite sport
for an indefinite period. o..
II is not generally known, but u
should be, that preparedness IN q
naval sense has been the watchword OF
American vachtsmcn for long time
Quietly. but thoroughly, they have been
prepsrinf- themselves and their yachts
Tor any emergency that might arise.
Power Boat Men Organized
Two years before the present glgan,
tic European struggle began the United
States Power Squadrons was ineorpo-
rated BIZ the officers of the Boston
Yacht Club. and to-day there are twenty
local sduadrons IN the principal ports
along the Atlantic coast and the coasts
of the Great Lakes.
This is an organization Of members
of recognized yacht clubs, many o.
them owners of yachts who are inter
osted in the proper handling and naVl-
rating of power boats. Its. Importance
inst now lies in the fact that 1t has
provided qualified body of yachtsmen
who could quickly volunteer Tor patron
duty on small craft in time OF war, as
is being done By great fleet of power
boats that are guarding the BRUSH
coast line day and night. -.
Many of those boats were built IN
America, and many more OF the same
tyne are afoat in New York waters to-
day. ready for service as patrol boats
If, in the case Of defensive war, they
are needed to chase submarines or
guard mine fields.
Flag Represents Efficiency
The flag Of the Squadrons stands for
efficiency and loyalty. Efficiency IN
that il floats over body Of men who
have proved their skill in the handling
of power boats under all conditions, and
loyalty TO the government with when
thew cooperate in all matters relating
to coaStwise navigation and the sate-
guarding Of lives and property
Inc NdEs ltN AAil AAoA ia @t4NfNf -
sists Of seven blue and six white alter
nate vertical stripes and a red field IN
the upper left corner, which bears a
circle and thirteen five-pointed stars
surrounding a white fouled anchor. 1t
is protected by patent and is registered
in the various states as the emblem OF
the corporation, and is thus protected
against use by non-members.
Vice-Admiral De Witt Cofman, sec
ond in command Of the Atlantic fleet
and commander of the battIeship force,
represents the navy on the governing
board of the Power Squadrons, and A.
J. Tyrer, Deputy Commissioner OF Navl-
CATION in the Department of Commerce
represents the last named body on the
board. of which Roger Upton is the
chairman.
The present officers of the organiza-
ton are: Chief commander, Theodore
I. Coe. Of New York; viee-commander,
Charles F. Chapman, of New YORK;
rear commander, Frank P. Huested, OF
Albany: secretary, Frank W. Ward
well. of Portland, Me-; treasurer, John
K. Murphy. of New Haven. The COM
mittee on instruction and examination
N. L. Stebbins and W. A. Hopkins, OF
Boston and Walter 7. Camp, Of Port
land, Ne.