xxxiv INTRODUCTORY PROCEEDINGS. 



any member demand a ballot ? Not hearing any demand for the ballot, I put the question to 

 you : Shall the men whose names have been read to you as applicants for membership be 

 elected? The Chair declares that at least four-fifths of the members present have voted in the 

 affirmative and they are elected. 



For Associate Members, I put the question to you : Shall the men whose names have been 

 read as applicants for Associate Members be elected ? Any member has a right to demand a 

 ballot on any name. Does any member demand a ballot? Not hearing any demand for a 

 ballot, all in favor of electing the men whose names have been read as Associate Members 

 please vote "Aye;" contrary-minded, "No." The Chair declares that four-fifths of the mem- 

 bers present have voted in the affirmative and the gentlemen are duly elected as Associate 

 Members. 



For Junior Members, I put the question to you : .Shall the applicants whose names have 

 been read be elected to Junior Membership? All in favor, make it manifest by saying 

 "Aye;" contrary-minded, "No." The Chair declares that at least four-fifths of the members 

 present have voted in the affirmative, and the applicants are duly elected as Junior Members. 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



Gentlemen of the Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Society, for the first time since 

 you did me the honor of selecting me to be your president, the state of my health permits of 

 my being with you at your annual meeting. May I take this opportunity of thanking each and 

 all of you for the honor conferred upon me, for the uniform kindness and sympathy with 

 which you have treated me and condoned my inability to perform my duty. To those 

 gentlemen who have accepted the responsibilities and done the work that I should have done 

 my thanks have already been given, but it is a pleasure here to renew them. 



During the past year the thoughts of all have been centered upon the European war. 

 Many new inventions cognate to our profession have been exploited and developed. The 

 submarine has come into great prominence, and for a time seemed to be a weapon of the first 

 order, but, like the pen, it must be in the hands of men entirely great to supplant the older 

 methods of destruction. 



The aeroplane, following the earlier precedents of the bicycle and automobile, was first 

 a toy, but has rapidly become a tool. The German Zeppelins, avowedly used to create terror, 

 have failed to produce the eiifect intended. It has been demonstrated that they can under fav- 

 orable conditions navigate the air and reach the point at which they aim; but, so far, they 

 have failed to accomplish anything of value from a military point of view. They have 

 destroyed a few buildings, they have killed some women and children and a few men, and 

 they have helped the English recruiting sergeants by the wave of anger following their raids. 



The battle cruisers, vessels of great speed, carrying large guns, and but lightly armored, 

 have apparently made good, although they have not been put to the final test of a fleet engage- 

 ment. 



The battleships have, perhaps, made the best showing, for the English battle fleet, rest- 

 ing quietly in harbor, has by its potential force kept the sea clear of German and Austrian 

 ships. To us this is the most important lesson of the war. A fleet to be of value must be equal, 

 or nearly equal, to the opposing force it may have to meet. The modern engines of destruc- 

 tion are so tremendous that any great excess in the number of these machines assures the 

 defeat and wiping out of the opposing fleet. 



