HELP FOR NAVAL AUTHORITIES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22823, 23 September 1939, Page 4

HELP FOR NAVAL AUTHORITIES

♦ MAH'? OFFERS OF VESSELS AND INVENTIONS (PBBSB ASSOCIATION TELBOEAM.) WELLINGTON, September 22. Many offers have been made by people throughout the Dominion to place motor-boats and other craft of various kinds at the disposal of the naval authorities, and, in many cases, owners have placed their personal services- at the disposal of the authorities. Lists are already in existence of craft suitable for naval purposes, according to a statement issued by the naval authorities to-night, and if and when any of • them is required the owner will be approached in the usual way. The ,naval authorities also wish to thank the many persons who have written to inform them of devices and inventions in connexion with naval warfare.

In particular, says the statement, many suggestions for the safety of submarines and their crews have been received, specially since the Thetis disaster. Under war conditions, however, and the consequent pressure of work, it may no longer be possible to send individual replies unless it is desired to obtain further information regarding- any particular suggestion, and inventors and designers are asked to understand that the absence of a reply indicates that their device is already embodied in existing ships, or weapons, that it has already been received from another source, or that it is incapable of adoption. SPECIAL SERVICE FOR YACHTSMEN PROPOSAL OP WELLINGTON SKIPPER TXHE PRESS Special Sendee.] WELLINGTON, September 22. A proposal that all yachtsmen who have already volunteered for service should be withdrawn from land duties and used for special service on submarine chasers was made yesterday by Mr Arthur Johnston, a well-known New Zealand yachtsman 'and Sanders Cup skipper. Other yachtsmen, in New Zealand could also be invited to volunteer for such service, he said. The majority of yachtsmen possessed technical qualifications of value in operating submarine chasers, and any enlisted could be sent to England for further training. Providing the men were of normal health and physically sound, age should not be a bar to service.

Mr Johnston said that the Australian Government could be invited to co-operate. He felt sure that yacht clubs would give every assistance to the authorities.