Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-12
.FORD'S SUB CHASERS
HAVE SHARP PROWS
Eagle Boats Are Equipped With
Device to Shoot at I'm
seen Target
SHIPS LONG AND NARROW
Seaworthincss Of Vessels Demon
stratcd by Official
SHIPS LONG AND NARROW

DEL ROlT, January ia long mar
row wedge. with s:cri cncascd nose
Of solid concrete ;apercd to "a knife
IKE cdSc. forming considerable part
OF IT'S total length -; 2ni feet and de-
ciared to b. capable OF crushing any
submarine-sucl! i the ,I:agic. built by
Henry Ford and designed originally 10
help rid the seas OF the menace OF the
German U-boItS.
Contrary 10 popu!s: belief the Ia. lie
IS not iHptVr-Doat, oIi an uii-burnil.
steam turbinc-d driven craft with a
cruising radius OF 800 miles The
lsaGl: Is not "a thing Of beauty: beat s.
was not contemplated in IT'S construc-
ZION IL is Il long, Saunt weapon oil
w.,T. Of all-stccl construction with the
exception OF inc concrete nose.
Another popular Impression that has
been shattered ~ iuca that lnc
E:aS1e ooat Is equipped Wit iorpcuu
tubes. me submarine ChaScr was not
INTENDED 20 combat the MAJOR instru-
mcnt OF German ruthiessncss with IT'S
own weapons. II was designed 10 de-
pend rather upon its manruVcrinc uual-
liles. Its powerful light guns and {. new
imtricdn invention Tor directing ITS
hF. al unseen objects.
Its crew. including operating and
hSntihS complement. NUMBERS anproAi-
mate!y eight? men.
VESSELS DRAW ONI,
Ten FEET OF WATER
To the observer the first impression
Of the Eagle boat Is one OF wonder
mat q craft so narrow can possess
buoEanS! Sufficient TO keep IL updign,
III neat% seas, Despite is length OF
more my al average city brock. the
craft has Deam OF oHIy twenty -hve
ret. and draws wnen iully equipped
tesH INA. tea feet OF water.
i,s se.two.thiness has been demon
strattu in the Official trials according
30 rrtHof's !" ne HayE department..
me IL Is admitted the Eagle does
hol ha"e ihc speed OF the average de-
Stroyer. 1t Is Claimed that ii can out
uistahTG moSl submarines. and the
rdHor-ii Ike edge OF the bow. Silently
but eloquent!y tells what would hav
happened had 1t come III contact with
tns German undcrsea pirates
null. DISl'LACt;S
LESS THAN :0a Tons
Buiit with utility as its prime pur-
p"S,. seemingly not an incn OF SPACE
~ wasted in the lifting OF the vessel
anu no, an ounce OF supertuous
Me!sni enters its construction. When
G," .I.,pp INTO me, wafer, ready for the
ihslatta non OF IT'S engines. guns. c.c.
less thsn 200 IONS oi material haye
oetn !ivetcd together to shape the
The Plates that form the sheli of
ths submarine chasers vary in thick-
nesS from one-quartcr to three-eishtns
OF an men and not a'sins!e forging or
rolled beam enters their make-un
everything IS pressed from sheet met
a. cod by means of machinery thal
cuts every piece to an exact PATTERN
punches rivet. holes and bends the in
Ierior part 10 required shape.
Nhidships rises the dcckhouse. ton
psu bS me p!.ot-hou.c, with raa,o
quarters and above all the COMING
to"er Kiln the crows mes; at III.
hiGhest point. Except for this super-
structure. the deck o. the Eagle ear
res always the stripped for action"
appearance.
Fright COMPLETED WHEN
ARMIsTiCE WAS SIGNED
The first Eagle boat was launched
July II: 1915, and when the armistice
ended hosti!ities ia November. eight
had been completed and twentv-Sne
othcrs under construction in various
Stages OF completion. Some of these
nave arrived At Atlantic coast norris
Although The sudden cessation NJ ms.
tiiltifs deprived the Eagle boats of an
opportunity TO test their proves
Ssains, the German undersca terror.
th.! are. nevertheless. to become a
part or the American Navy. the gov
eminent having announced It's inten
tioh 70 use them as Su,Ihoats i'm coast
waters. "i"i
The contract for the construction of
me EaSic boats which the government
naN announced will be carried OUT. calls
lrr ito OF the vessels for the I-nited
states government. and twelve for The
French navy