The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1919-10-04
FLYING BOATS AND cHAsERs.
The Latter Open TO Visstors--Fine
Navy Exhibit at Fair.


r. S. Vickers, secretary ,of Thu
South Louisiana Fair, succeeded il
securing two u. S.. Navy sub-c..1aser.
mo. 3 and No. 100, and two Of this
navy's most advanced types of fas1
flying boats used for bombing and
convoy work and submarine patrols
during the war. The sub-chasers ars
at the Donaldsonville wharf and Wis.
itors are welcome from 10 a. m. to
IL m. and from to 5 p. m. These
boats both saw actual service during
the worlG war and assisted in keeping
the seas free from the Hun under
seas boats. They are 10 feet in
length and only Is feet wide; yet
sleeping ;,ccommo dations are provided
for twenty-four men on each boas.
The kitchen, or galley, as it is called
| in sea-going terms, is housewife 5
model of efficiency and conservation
of space. Each boat is equipped with
radio and wireless telephones with
which they can communicate with the
other ships, or with the seaplanes
and flying boats that like lazy buzz
yards slowly circle among the clouds
far above and watch the surface of
the sea for the periscope Of the SUBJ
marine. Every inch of space on
board the sub-chasers has been util-
lied and the visitor is surprised to
see that even shower bath has been
provided. Three 220-h. p. gasoline
engines furnish power and there are
also two auxiliary engines.
Ensign H. R. Alker is command
ing officer of Sub-chaser No. 3, and
senior officer in charge, and Ensign
j. G. Welsh, commanding officer of
Sub-chaser No. 100.
Ensign G. C. Cannon, aviation aide
to Commander Jas. Blair Gilmer, re-
cruiting Inspector of the southern
division, states that the navy enlist
ments are still open for aviation me-
chanics, although SO many have en-
listed that he thinks this branch of
recruiting will soon be closed. To
the young man of mechanical ability
or inclination the navy offers wonder
full possibilities. If his knowledge Of
gasoline engines is not sufficient, the
navy will send him to one of the
finest mechanical schools in the
world at the Great Lakes Training
Station, Chicago, ILL.,, where he will
be taught all about aeronautical en-
gines, feeding him, clothing him and
paying him while he learns trade
that when he again enters civil life
MS services will be in demand. The
navy has always maintained a very
nigh standard in it's enlistments and
8 recognized as having the pick of |
Americas manhood. The vessels are
expected to return Monday-the sub
.hasers boats to their base at New
Orleans and the flying boats to Pens
acola, Fla.
The navy recruiting booth in the
manufacturers Building at the fair
rounds has very interesting ex-
ibit Of navy models Of three diff
erent types Of navy seaplanes and
lying boats, correctly built to scale,
n every detail. The smallest type
eproduced weighs about 1700It
ounds and the largest over IA 900
ounds or Z tons. This huge navy
wing boat will carry fifteen passen- |,
ers, mounts ten machine guns in Il
airs, each gun firing at the rate Of Ii
90 shots per minute. On the bowl
three-inch gun is mounted that will
ierce the hull Of a submarine. I'm Il
er the wings depth bombs are car
led. The pilots seat folds back SO