LAND AND .W. A T E R. 
April 3, 1915. 
LETTER CASES. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
De.vr Sir, — Finding that thera is a great demand for 
email V7aterproof pocket letter-cases for the soldiers, I am 
employing some women out of work to make them. 
They measure 6A hy 4J inches, are light iu weight, anl 
pontain writing materials. 
I can supply them at 9ti. each, which covers co?t of 
material and making and leaves a surplus over to hand to the 
Red Cross and St. John Ambulance Societies. 
The ca.ses were greatly appreciated during the South 
African war, and I have sent many to the front now. 
I shall bo very glad to receive orders. — Yours truly, 
C. Minnie Gbeen. 
The Moorings, St. Albans. 
SIGNALLING IN THE FIELD, 
To the Editor of Land and W.ater. 
Sir, — Morso and semaphore, with flag, or disc, or hand, 
have each marked disadvantages. Morse is slow to send — 
semaphore requires quite sir feet of cover behind the sender, 
I suggest the following method of rendering semaphore less 
con.ipicuous ; 
Substitute for the lowest radii a wave of the flag from B 
to F and back and from F to B and back — e.g., A becomes a 
wave of the flag from B to F and back, G a wave of the flag 
from F to B and back, I a sign — left hand as at present at C 
right, a wave of the hand from B to F and back, N crossing 
waves from B and F. The time lost to semaphore A, 0, H, 
I, K, L, M, N, Z, X, V, wave, and S is at the most one letter 
for letter. Time still gained over Morse all other letters except 
T and E (perhaps I). In the suggested code A = about — , 
G = about . less one — , II =■ about .... less one ., 
I " . . plus one ., K = — . — less one — , and so ou. 
A man sitting down could use this code with his hands or 
with discs and be screened by a fair-sized bush. In this 
country a gorse bush would cover a man sending by hand, 
sitting down. Would it cover him standing up or kneeling I 
The answer is, very rarely. — ^Yours truly, 
"Flaowag." 
Bath Club, Dover Street. 
SUBMARINE CHASERS. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Sir,— I read with great interest the proposals put for- 
ward by your correspondent "J. R." in your issue of 
March 20. As I am of the opinion that it is quite practicable 
to evolve a satisfactory " submarine chaser " on much more 
modest and economical lines than those suggested by " J. R.," 
it is possible that you may consider the following as being of 
sufficient interest for publication. 
As a beginning I may say that I agree with your corre- 
epondent'a general conclusions as to speed, armament, &c., 
except that I consider that a speed margin of 10 to 12 knots 
quite sufficient for the purpose. 
My objection to the vessel proposed by "J. R." is that 
it would be unnecessarily expensive and that it would re- 
quire too large a crew to operate. Incidentally I may point 
out that your correspondent's proposal is similar in almost 
every respect to the "30 knot" destroyers turned out in 
the later 'nineties, wliich were 210 feet long, 350 tons dis- 
placement, 6,000 I.H.P., and 8 feet draught. This type, 
however, carried the comparatively powerful armament of 
one 12pr. Q.F., five 6pr. Q.F., and two torpedo tubes, and 
consequently if brought up to date would be better vessels 
than that proposed by "J. R." 
Now as to an alternative. There are in the French Navy 
three or four score " Torjiilleurs de Defence Mobile," Nos. 
295-369, built 1903-1909, and having the following char- 
acteristics : Length 122 feet, displacement 97 tons, 2,000 
I.H.P., and 25 knots speed. These handy little craft are 
armed -with two small Q.F. guns and three torpedo tubes. 
What we want is something a little lighter and faster; a com- 
promise between the French boats and the Turhinia would 
about "fill the bill." 
The Turhinia, mentioned by your correspondent, was 
100 feet long, 44 tons displacement, 2,300 I.H.P., and 34^ 
knots speed. 
The approximate particulars of the type I suggest would 
be as follows: Length, 105 feet; beam, 12 feet 6 inches; 
draught of bull, 4 feet; extreme, 5 feet; displacement, 75 
tons; I.H.P., 1,800; speed, at least 28 knots. The speed esti- 
mate is modest, as it is based on an Admiralty co-efTicient of 
200, whereas the corresponding figure in the case of the Tur- 
hinia was over 220. The machinery would be either turbine 
or internal combustion engines of the same type as installed 
in submarines. Possibly the latter would be preferable as 
being already a standard pattern and capable of quick and 
easy manufacture. 
The armament would consist of a 12pr. Q.F. forward and 
a 3pr. Q.F. aft, on an auti-aircraft mounting. I have noli 
been able to investigate tlie weights of such a vessel in detail, 
but it might also be possible to mount a torpedo tube. 
A vessel such as I have proposed would not cost mora 
than one-third of the cost of the type proposed by " J. R.," 
and could be manned by a crew proportionately small. There 
are many small yards in which vos.sols of this kind could be 
built without disturbing the E!ipi)ly of the present needs of 
the Government, and they could bo largely manned from the 
ranks of the Motor Boat Reserve. — Yours sincerely, 
J. D. C. 
Glasgow. 
OUR MOTOR AMBULANCE 
APPEAL. 
AN EXCELLENT START. 
By ATHERTON FLFMING. 
IT is my very pleasant duty this week to announce that ati 
the lime of going to press we are in receipt of a large 
number of subscriptions for the benefit of this fund, 
the amounts varying from one sliilling to thirty 
pounds. The first appeal to our readers has produced 
nearly one-quarter of the amount asked for. This is exceed- 
ingly satisfactory, and uo more than I expected from the 
readers of Land and Water. Nevertheless, more money is 
wanted, and, for the benefit of those who have not as yet 
read the appeal which appeared in our last issue, I reproduce 
hereunder this rough outline of the scheme: 
1. That a subscription list be opened with this issue 
of Land and Water for the purpose of raising the sum 
of £500. 
2. That this sum be devoted to the purchase and 
equipment of a suitable motor ambulance, containing 
accommodation for four stretcher cases and alternative 
accommodation for " sitting-up " cases and orderly. 
3. That the chassis be of a well-known and reputable 
make — to be decided later — and the construction of the 
body be handed over to an expert ambulance-body_ 
builder. 
4. That details of equipments, such as lighting, &c., 
be left to the discretion of Dr. Munro, owing to his better 
knowledge of the conditions under which he has to work. 
5. That the motor ambulance — which will bear an 
inscription: "Presented by the readers of Land and 
Water to the Munro Field Ambulance " — shall be handed 
over to Dr. Munro for use with the Belgian Army. 
6. That should there be any balance in hand after 
the purchase and equipment of the ambulance the decision 
shall rest with the proprietors of this journal as to whether 
it shall be handed to Dr. Munro for the maintenance and 
upkeep of the presentation ambulance or used in the 
nucleus of a second fund for the provision of another 
motor ambulance. 
7. That all cheques, postal orders, or money orders 
should be made payable to " Land and Water Motor 
Ambulance Fund " and crossed " London County and 
Westminster Bank, Ltd." The addrc.=s of this journal {% 
Central House, Kingsway, London. All subscriptions will 
be acknowledged by the proprietors of this journal. 
We are on the eve of great events — of fierce fighting on 
both sides, decisive battles which will decide the fate of 
nations. Every little thing one can do to help should be done. 
The L-\nd and W.ater Ambulance scheme is but a very, very 
small effort to help in some material way, and the ambulance 
itself will be, I hope, ready to do its share just about the 
time when every available help is of vital importance. 
Belgium's brave army is rapidly being got ready for 
its dash at the enemy, when the word is given. Remember 
that the Belgian army is dependent upon us and that they are. 
only waiting for the time to come when they can avenge the 
cruel outrage of their country. What they have suffered is 
for the sake of Britain. Please let them see that we appreciate 
their eacrifices, and that, when the great forward movement 
takes i;ilace, they shall go into battle knowing that at least 
one more unit has been added to the little fleet of ambulances 
commanded by the man who has already done so much iot. 
the Belgian wounded — Dr. Hector Munro, to wit. 
Printed by TiiF. \'i; touta ITonss Prixtixu Co., Ltd., Tudor Street, W'hitetiiars, London, E.G. 
