March 6, 1915. 
LAND AND .WATER. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
THE COST OF A SAILORS' HOME. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
BiR, — You may have noticed that the Scottish N&tional 
Council of the Y.M.C.A. has been doing really good work at 
the training camps in Scotland siuce the beginning of the 
)rar. 
We hare had a very tirgent appeal from Invergordon to 
do something for the Navy men who spend their leisure time 
ashore there. These men when they get their leave ashore 
have absolutely no place to spend their time, and certainly 
no place to spend a night in. We have embarked upon the 
building of a sailors' home with fifty bed cubicles, restaurant, 
imoke room, billiard room, and entertainment room accom- 
modation — a place where they can go freely, and always find 
a warm welcome, comfort, and entertainment. 
The appeal from the officers and from the district has 
been so strong that we have embarked upon the construction 
cf the home without the funds being secured. The total cost. 
Including furnishing, will be £3,600. Towards this we have 
gathered £900, and have received £500 as a Treasury grant 
on condition that it is finished in three months' time. We are 
appealing for the remaining £2,200. The national indebted- 
ness to our sailors goes without saying, and I am sure the 
need for this sum only wants to be made known to insure its 
being received. A recommendation to the undoubtedly 
rympathetic readers of your splendid journal would be of 
Inestimable value in securing the required amount. — Thank- 
ing you in anticipation, I am faithfully yours, 
Andrew H. Pettigrew. 
"THE 9TH LANCERS." 
To ths Editor of L.vnd and Water. 
Sir, — With reference to the letter headed " The 9th 
Lancers," which appeared in Land and Water of 
February 27, I am able to answer " Old Soldier's " question. 
On August 24 the flank of the 5th Infantry Division 
was threatened by a very heavy attack by the enemy'i 
infantry. The 9th Lancers and part of the 4th Dragoon 
Guards were ordered to charge with a view to checking the 
enemy's advance. This they did under a terrific fire, being 
supported by the remainder of the 4th Dragoon Guards, 
the 18tli Hus.iars, and L Battery R.H.A. No guns were 
charged. The mistake made by Mr. H. Ross end other artists 
Is, I think, due to the fact that it was immediately after the 
charge that Captain Grenfell went to the help of the 119th 
Battery. This battery had suffered very heavily, and, owing 
to the heavy fire, was unable to bring up the teams. Captain 
Grenfell, assisted by officers and men of the 9th Lancers, 
helped the gunners to man-handle the guns out of action. 
I think a good many people have mixed up the two 
Incidents. I enclose my card. — Yours, 
"AN AIR FLEET 2,000 STRONG." 
To the Editor of Land akd Water. 
Dear Sir, — ^Your plan ought not to fail for the want of 
Capital. Though the Government may not at once vote the 
money, cannot an appeal be made to the public ? In thia 
appeal let patriotism be put before dividends. 
I venture to suggest the following points, in sketching 
the lines of a patriotic limited liability company. 
1. The company shall be formed with a capital of 
£10,000,000, divided into £1 shares, and at allotment 
preference shall be given to the small subscriber. 
2. The maximum dividend shall be 5 (or even 4) per cent., 
10 that the shareholdei-s shall feel that they are helping their 
country at least as much as their pockets. 
3. The employes shall have full trades union rates of pay 
(and shall further have divided among them 2h per cent, of 
the profits over and above the fixed dividends paid to the 
•hareholders). 
4. That any further profits that may accrue shall be paid 
Into a sinking fund, which sinking fund shall be used to pay 
off the shareholders at par, either by annual drawings or as 
a whole when the sinking fund shall have reached the sum 
of the capital. 
5. That at each drawing and repayment of capital the 
Government shall step into the place of the former owner of 
the stock, BO that in tho end the Government shall own the 
yhole concern. 
The general public would, by subECribiog for the stock, 
avoid the necessity of etill further inflaung the present volume 
of Government expenditure; they would not be enriching 
themselves at the expense of the" State by receiving a high 
rate of interest; and they would, by means of the sinking 
fund, end by giving their country the present of an organised 
business undertaking free of cost. 
By subscribing the capital, some of us who are not able, 
by reason of age or health, to serve our country in the field, 
would feel that we were doing something in the service of the 
people, and in our small way helping to perform a XiiTovpjua. 
—I remain, yours very truly, 
J. W. Williams. 
Perhaps you will say that this is sentiment, not business; 
but in war time sentiment has greater power than ever. 
New House, Wadhurst, 
ANTI-SUBMARINE TACTICS, 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
BiR, — In the discussions which have appeared in the news* 
papers as to the best form of anti-submarine tactics, I have not 
yet seen a suggestion that a special type of boat should be con- 
litructed for the purpose of attacking this new enemy. De- 
stroyers were designed and constructed for the special purpose 
of attacking torpedo boats. Is it not probable that a new type 
of vessel will have to be designed for the special purpose of 
attacking submarines? If this proves to be the case, let us 
consider the principal points which should bo embodied in the 
design ; 
(1) She must have speed at least as great as that of the 
iubmarine; also she must respond quickly to her rudder and 
turn in a small circle. 
(2) She must be adapted for ramming and constructed in 
such a manner that she will withstand the shock of collision. 
(3) She must carry deck armament somewhat more 
powerful than that of the largest submarine and also a large 
scatter gun to use against the periscope. 
(4) She should have as low a freeboard as is compatible 
with a capability of keeping at sea in stormy weather and, if 
possible, she should have no mast or funnel in order that she 
may be invisible at a distance. 
Possibly some of our torpedo boats could be adapted to 
fulfil the more important of these conditions, but if not, is 
there any good reason why the Admiralty should not, without 
delay, construct a few specially designed anti-submarine boats ? 
Destroyers are too large and too valuable for the purpose, and 
as for steam yachts, whose maximum speed is twelve or 
thirteen knots, and which are slow in answering their rudders, 
I am confident that no yachtsman would consider them at all 
fit to cope with a fast and active submarine enemy. 
If the Admiralty are trusting to armed steam yachts or 
to unarmed merchant steamers and trawlers for the destruc- 
tion of the enemy's submarines, I venture to think that they 
will discover before long that they have made a grave mistake 
and one which may have serious consequences. 
Perhaps I should add that I am writing this letter in the 
capacity of a yachtsman of forty years' experience and also 
as an ex-olficer of the Royal Engineers. — I remain. Sir, yours 
faithfully, 
DUNLE.VTH. 
THE EAST KENT HUNT. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Dear Sir, — The East Kent Hunt has formed a corps of 
Mounted Scouts. 
The Committee consists of Mr. H. W. Selby Lowndes 
(the M.F.H., who is chairman), Mr. S. L. Harries (hon. sec), 
Mr. J. E. Churchill (hon. sec. P. and D.), Mr. J. D. Masted, 
and Colonel Baynes, who is in command. 
Captain Bell has kindly lent Bourne Park for drilling. 
The corps is recognised by the War Office, and already a 
number of drills have taken place. 
Amongst others who have enrolled and attended the 
mounted drills are Messrs. Selby Lov;ud5s, Harries, Churchill, 
Uniacke, Collard, Tanner, Miles, Turner, Hunt, Kelsey, 
Maxted, Coleman, Goodson, Aslienden, Cathie, iic, and it is 
hoped that hunting men in East Kent Vvho are not eligible for 
Lord Kitchener's Army will join as scon as possible. 
Mr. A. F. Uniacke, of 13, St. Gsorge's Street, Canter- 
bury, who is tho hon. sec, will fus-iish all particulars as to 
conditions, drills, uniform, Ac, on application. — Yours 
faithfully, 
H. W. StLBY Lowndes. 
15* 
