4 NORTH SHORE BREEZE and Reminder 
lacked the skill needful to launch or operate them under 
the conditions at the time. 
“The result would be that the vessel or vessels furn- 
ished with aviation control could, with equally good gun- 
imanship and similar guns, begin to hit the adverse fleet 
of vessels long before they themselves were in danger of 
anything more than chance shots. Under average sea 
conditions seaplanes cannot. rise from the surface of the 
sea because it is not sufficiently smooth in the open ocea‘. 
tience the need of a catapult to throw the aviators, one 
after another, into the air at flying speed, for a skilful 
aviator in the air at flying speed at a height of thirty fect 
above the water can continue to fly and render efficient 
service not only under average conditions but under con- 
ditions much worse than the average. 
“Let us now suppose that it 1s an individual ship 
which has aviation control, opposed to a fleet without 
aviation control. By reason of the immense disparity 1n 
numbers the fleet succeeds in getting within efficient 
range of the individual vessels. As the battle progresses 
the smoke from their funnels and from the guns (by no 
means negligent) is likely to obscure the vision of the 
‘ren in the topmasts and continue the advantage given by 
the aviators to the weaker force, even after the range ts 
near enough to be effective with clear air and the use ot 
ordinary range-finders. If, now, the single vessel car 
put an island or fogbank between itself and the enemy, 
or if either of the forces is in the fog the vessel assisted 
by aviators will be greatly helped. A fog bank seldom 
is so high as to prevent the smoke of battleships or hut 
air from their funnels from being visible to aviators. 
Therefore, if in fog, aviators could attack with torpedoes 
with little danger of being hit themselves. 
Set each’ one of the readers consider what, if any- 
thing, he can do as an individual to induce Congress to 
grasp this vital oportunity at this critical period in our 
international relations. The ironclad, machine-gun, tor- 
pedo, the submarine, the flying machine, were all first suc- 
cessfully put in use by Americans; have all been within 
ne grasp of this country under such conditions as would 
have made it possible to keep America in the lead. And 
i1 each case foreign governments have greedily seized 
the opportunity first offered to our Congress. Nor is 
Congress one whit to blame, for Congress is simply a 
nurror, or, to be more accurate, a composite photograph 
of Congress’s constituency. If individual voters will 
imake known to Congress that they’re alive to strengthen- 
ing national defence and put the United States in the lead, 
then Congress will do the rest. 
“It is probably physically impossible for the United 
States in five years to take the lead as a naval power or 
as a military power on land, so far as the construction ox 
battleships is concerned, but it is perfectly possible and 
with an expenditure not so great as one year’s pensions, 
to place the United States in the lead in air-fighting craft. 
Certainly we ought not to be content with less than one 
per cent of these craft, as at present.”—Boston Tran- 
Script. 
(The pictures used with this article were taken for 
the Breeze at Marblehead two years ago this spring. 
While progress has been made in the development of the 
seaplane the contour and general appearance of the 
machines are practically the same today as in 1914.—ED.) 
Fox Hunting In America Ever on the Increase 
A SPORT that is yearly assuming greater proportions 
is that of “following the hounds.” Numbers of prom- 
inent men in kindred lines of sport have become fox- 
hound enthusiasts and welcome members of the dog 
fancy, for fox hunting is actually but a branch of the dos 
fancy, combining also a love for the horse. It is a branch 
capable, however, of being developed to such magnitude 
as to become a distinct line of sport. 
Too much encouragement cannot be given to the 
various hunts, for they are also stanch supporters of the 
bench shows. 
Taking the dog end of fox hunting only, Americans 
in the few brief years since they Radertook the breeding 
and the hunting of foxhounds have established a recor! 
that can be contested only by the Boston terrier. The 
American foxhound, as he is today, stands as a monu- 
rent to that group of enthusiasts who, daring all oppo- 
sition, brought to this country one of England’s oldest 
sports and the English foxhound. Having the whole 
weight of centuries of tradition to bear did not daunt 
those who undertook the evolution of the American fox- 
hound. ‘Today he is supreme, and only lacks the number 
of organized hunts. 
Credit also must be given to the National Steeple- 
chase and Hunt Association, for it has brought the horse 
and dog lover together in a sport where both stand on a 
par. It is the governing body, and has approved the fol- 
lowing recomnized hunts for 1916:—Brandywine Hounds, 
Rhester pe Hunt, Elkridge Hunt club, Essex Fox- 
hounds, Glen Arden Hunt, Glen Moore Hunt, Grafton 
Hounds, Green Spring Valley Hunt, Groose Point Hunt 
club, Huntingdon Valley Hunt, Middleburg Hunt, Mid- 
dlesex Foxhounds, Millbrook Hunt, Mr, Riddle’s Hounds, 
Myopia Hunt, Montpelier Hounds, Mr. Winston’s 
Hounds, Norfolk Hunt club, Orange County Hunt, Pied- 
mont Foxhounds, Pickering Hunt, “Radnor Hunt, Romlil 
Hounds, Shelburne Hounds, Smithtown Hunt club, Wat- 
chung Hunt, Warrenton Hunt and White Marsh Valley 
Hunt. 
Many of these packs number only American fox- 
hounds, while others have English and American hounds. 
Some are very active, notable among then being the 
Myopia Hunt, fhe Piedmont Foxhounds, winners at the 
New York show this year with their dog pack; the 
Essex Foxhounds and the Millbrook Hunt. The war has 
brought forcibly to the attention of the entire world the 
fact that the horses and the riders who had received their 
training in the “trivial” occupation of following the hounds 
were of cardinal necessity. A sport bringing out that 
which is best in dog, horse and man should be encourage | 
The growing list of recognized hunts speaks for itself. 
Tue Boston Orrice of the department of commerce, 
lighthouse service, is making inquiries through various 
organizations identified with maritime interests regarding 
public opinion toward changing the light on Marblehead 
Neck and replacing it with a flashing light on Marblehead 
rock. 
No one can live in such fashion that he need make no 
co™promises between the ideal and the practical. That 
is because nature draws no hard-and-fast lines. We all 
seek the better; no one can reach the best.—E-xchange. 
A man may select his own companions, but his rela- 
tions are always thrust upon him, 
May 19, 1916. 
at as 
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