Evening star., 1940-10-08
By MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.

BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
II you own yacht with room on
board for one machine gun, depth
charge rack, one officer and five
enlisted men, the United States
Navy might be interested in buying
it, providing all requirements in
cluding that of seaworthiness are
met.
1t will have to be more than Just
the family runabout, however, before
the Navy will show any interest.
They must be sea-going craft with
plenty of power.
Uncle Sam can afford to be
choosey in matter. Yachtsmen Of
the United States, it was disclosed
at the Navy Department, are VOL
unteering more craft than the Navy
will have use for in the present
emergency. Every offer, however, is
recorded, it was pointed out. In each
Naval district where a pleasure craft
is offered, it is recorded with the
district commandant-including all
its specifications and where avail
able-so that the Navy can reach
the owner at a moments notice.
No Communicating in Prospect.
As long as these offers continue
to reach the department here and
the various districts. the Navy en-
tertains no thoughts of COM
Wandering pleasure boats when
M-day comes, a Navy spokesman
points out.
Yachts already converted to naval
use and the growing list of future
conversions will be used almost ex-
clusively as subchasers and vessels
for patrolling the coast and inland
waters, according to plans formu-
lated in the Navy Department.
In the last war-when yachts
were something of a rarity-a num-
Der of larger craft were purchased
bv the Government and gave val
liable service to the Navy. both
in home waters and abroad. Still in
private use today are several yachts
carving gold chevrons on their
stacks, each chevron marking six
ITlOIlLll ScINlCc Will liic 4NdNS AL
the World War.
10 Purchased.
The Navy. since August II, has
purchased outright 10 OF the cour-
try's most prominent yachts for
which they have paid anywhere
from 81 to s15o.0OO. depending op
their size and their adaptability
to the services use Owners who
offered their boats at no cost were
paid the traditional 81.
They include George L. Bourne's
120-foot Onwego. Arthur V. Davis
154-foot Elda, r. L. Sullivan's 100
foot Arlis. Mrs. H. E Manville's Hi
Esmaro. Harold S. Vanderbilt's 150-
foot Vara, Col. E. A. Deads' Lotus
land and w. r. Reid's Evelyn R.
II, 120-foot Diesel yacht The ma
jority of the owners are prominent
members of the New York Yacht
Club.
For 81 each the Navy purchased
Walter P. Murphy's 2o5-foot In
trepid. Alfred L. Loomis' 93-foot
Katoura. both of New York City,
and Robert F. Herrick's 101-foot
Gypsy, Boston, Mass. Katoura and
Gypsy are being fitted out as sub
chasers. while the Katoura will
serve as a patrol vessel.
Public Sale After Emergency.
AS fast as facilities will permit,
these yachts are being sent to the
country's navy yards for conver-
sion, the Navy points out. All will
be manned by Navy personnel. At
the conclusion of the national emer-
gency or any war. the owners will
have the opportunity to rebuy their
yachts at a public sale. similar to
arrangements after the last war,
according to Navy plans.
Not only private boat owners but
the country's leading yachts builders
are showing splendid co-opera-
ton" in their support of the naval
expansion program, the depart
ment here stresses, adding that sew
eral concerns are experimenting
with designs of motor torpedo boats,
crash boats and mine SweeperS.
II your yacht meets the following
requirements. it will be eligible for
conversion into a sub chaser: go to
ITS feet overall, not less than II
miles an hour speed: designed to
permit mounting of one 3-inch anti
aircraft gun, two .50-caliber machine
guns and two depth-charge racks;
and hull of such strong construction
as to be seaworthy and capable of
maneuvering under rough water
conditions in the open sea.
Patrol Boat Specifications.
Yachts less than so feet overall
would be used as patrol boats, pro-
viding they meet these Specifica-
tions: Speed not less than IA miles
an hour; designed for one machine