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number, one forward and one aft--the latter for reserve stipply. (f) Provision for a stern light should. be made. (g) Acetylene gas should replace the inefficient lighting by lard oil, es- pecially for running lrghts. Capt. Seaton Schroeder, United States navy: The subject of motor boats for naval service is, of course, one of peculian interest to naval men. The presentation of a paper upon the subject before this society is a matter upon which the navy may congratulate itself--all the more so from considera- tion of the excellence of Mr. Adams' exposition of the subject. Anyone plodding along in one of our steam launches, who has occasion to observe a motor bodat passing, is un- failingly impressed with the difference itl the service furnished by the two-- more especially, at first glance, in the carrying power of the latter, due, as is pointed out, to the greatly reduced weight and volume of its machinery. The almost irresistible tendency is to exclaim "why cannot we have them in the navy?" The sight of one mo- tor whale-boat in the fleet lately has undoubtedly emphasized this thought. Of course the advantages inherent in explosive engines are many besides that of reduced weight and bulk; all of which are well pointed out in the paper under discussion. It is perhaps safe to say that there is a very gen- eral' appreciation of the advantages possessed by the motor boat for naval service; it may be that there is also a like appreciation of the difficulties at- tending its introduction, but these are, I think, less generously cited, which is a very fortunate attitude, tending to facilitate 'rather than to retard progress. There is a feature in the problem, which has not been touched upon by the essayist but which appeals to me as creating the most serious condition with which we have to reckon. I allude to the inconvenience of having a ship's. boats use a fuel. different from that used by the ship herself. If, having been in action and having let the gasoline or alcohol run over- board for that reason, or from -hav- ing exhausted the supply in any other way, a ship's power boats should be inoperative, it might be a serious in- convenience. t is true that from the lightness of explosive engines, a boat normally propelled by them would still be available under oars; but the mgbility and value of the boat power of the ship would be seriously af- fected. It :is also true that colliers or other supply ships could be fitted ficulty. "THE. Marine. REVIEW to carry gasoline or alcohol; and. this furnishes a partial answer to the dif- As a matter of fact, a more or less satisfactory answer can be found to almost any difficulty. But considering all the phases of naval service in war, which should be the only situation considered, I appre- hend 'that the feature which |] have mentioned is of more serious import than the technical questions of relia- bility, danger from fire, etc. How- ever much we may enjoy the jokes at the expense of automobilists who find. themselves stranded by the road--- side, probably no one will seriously urge unreliability as an argument against the adoption of explosive en- gines for navy boats. It- js not so many years since, upon the occasion of a derangement of a small ship's machinery, me that saiis were a much more re- liable method of propulsion; and I thought then, as I still think . now, that at that time he was not far from wrong. But steam engines have im- proved since then. And explosive en- gines will improve now; and I think that the question of adopting them should not be delayed on that score. In the matter. of danger from fire, a very important factor is introduced in the brief suggestion that "the development of a satisfactory and efficient explosive alcoliol engine is near at hand." This is a develop- ment which seems to be worth wait- ing for; and I should counsel wait- ing for it--at all events, for a while. The property possessed by alcohol of mixing with water and of ceasing to burn when diluted beyond a certain point is one of inestimable value when compared with the property pos- sessed by gasoline of continuing to burn while floating upon water. From the point of view of simply a user. of boats, therefore, I beg to suggest that in the final determina- tion of the question as to whether or not it is advisable to introduce mo- tor boats generally in the naval ser- vice, the essential point to be de- cided is whether or not the certainty of having a supply of the explosive fuel on hand is- sufficient to warrant facing the possible danger of finding ourselves without power boats inop- erative. And this suggests the pos- sible propriety of putting motor boats only in' ships that remain in, com- pany with the fleet and its supply vessels; small cruisers and gunboats or other vessels liable to be employed on detached duty would perhaps bet- ter retain boats using the same fuel as the ships themselves. A Deetnnine her -captain remarked to. -boat should be 2 could be made by substituting one motor launch for one steam launch in each batt eship and large c'uiser that carries two or more steamers. To simply fit one of their pulling boats with a motor would evade the ques- tion; it would simply be ag admit- ted convenience and would tend to place boatsmanship still further back. in the category of obsolescent arts; but a sure way of determining the ad- visability of adopting motor boats to the exclusion of steam boats is to so introduce them that if they fail in any way the pinch will be felt. f One moe suggestion from the standpoint of the user of boats. The expression "motor boat" is popu 'arly associated with ideas of speed and sport. We do not want anything of that kind for general purposes in the navy. What we need is boats of about the present type with good wholesome towing propellers, able to carry a good load and tow a number of other loaded boats. There is no objection to speed, of couse; but it should be wholly subordinated to seaworthiness and carrying and tow- ing capacity. Rear Admiral' Chas. M. Thoms. United States navy: 1. I have 'read with much interest the excellent pa- per on "Motor Boats -for Naval Ser- vice,' by. Naval - Constructor: 1 5: Adams, United States navy,. and it gives me pleasure to state that, in' the main, I agree with his conclu- sions and recommendations. © 2. The contemp:ated plan of car- rying gasoline in copper tanks lo- cated in the trimming tanks of the vessel, is an excellent suggestion, and I believe it to be entirely practicable, and the safest method that comes to my mind, or that I have ue neare proposed. 3. The advantages and i. tages of the general adoption of the motor boat for naval use are fairly and fully summarized in this admira-. ble paper, and I agree with the au- thor that the former outweigh the lat- ter very materially. 4. The navy has been ececdiee conservative upon the subject of change of power,for its small boats, and, in- my opinion, too much so, and I believe the time has come when extensive experiments with the moto: inaugurated, and I hope soon to see at least one boat of this class upon each battleship, to be given an_ exhaustive trial, and fully reported upon in comparison with the steamer, under all circum- stances of wind and sea, and carry- ing requirements.