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December, 1914 tain properties to recommend them, but suffer, on. the .other hand, from many disadvantages. They are com- pletely waterproof and have no action on iron or steel. They adhere well to iron, and have a considerable degree ot elasticity which prevents them from cracking. They are warm to stand on and quite noiseless to walk over. They are also considerably lighter than the oxychloride compositions. As to the disadvantages, these com- positions are all black or brown in color and cannot be given other col- ors. They have'a rough surface and will take no polish. They are highly inflammable, and when strongly heat- ed give off large quantities of inflam- mable gas. They soften at tempera- tures above 90 degrees Fahr., and are therefore not of any use for ships trading in hot climates or for spaces above the boilers. They will not hold nails or screws. Some of them when warm have a distinct odor, which in confined spaces becomes very unpleas- ant after a time. The attention of Mr. F. A. Byerley of Byerley & Sons, manufacturers of Byer- lyte, was directed to the concluding paragraphs of Mr. Paterson's article and he said: "Byerlyte floors, I am happy to say, possess all the advantages which Mr. Paterson refers to and do not have the objections to which he refers. As you are aware Byerlyte*floérs are furnished either in black or red and they" are rubbed down to a perfectly smooth true surface. It may be true that they can- not be polished: as he speaks of polish- ing wood or compositions of wood as also the cement compositions, but, this is a minor matter and one that can in no way be of any particular advantage to the floor as the polish would not be lasting. "Byerlyte floors are fire-proof, the composition being such as to resist fire and heat. This' being the case they certainly cannot be inflammable, espe- cially so as the major part of the com- position is a mineral aggregate, the bituminous binder being the smallest part. use to hold the mineral aggregate to- gether has a flashing point considerably above 600 degrees Fahrenheit and when in combination with the mineral aggre- gate this flashing point is materially in- creased. It goes without saying that any such temperature as this would never be possible except in a total destruction of the boat by an internal fire. "That Byerlyte floors do not give off large quantities of inflammable gas will say, that the floors are applied at a temperature approximately 400 and are then only in a plastic condition at which This bituminous binder which we THE MARINE REVIEW time only the very slightest vapor is detectable. That they will soften at a temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit is also overcome in. Byerlyte floors as bituminous binder has a melting point well above 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The melting point of the material is very much increased by the mixture of the mineral aggregate. "On a recent test of a Byerlyte floor laid directly over the main steam pipe on one of our large lake boats it was found that a temperature well above 200 was attained. A certified thermometer set.on the flooring registered 190., At this temperature Byerlyte floors did not soften to such an extent as to render them unfit for use. While it is true at this temperature they softened, but, the decks .were used constantly. Will say another good feature of Byerlyte flooring is that there is abso- lutely no odor whether the flooring is laid in a confined space or on the open deck, and this is true at any and all temperatures. Further than this, Byer- lyte floors are sanitary. They are proof against vermin or germs, and are the only floors that will satisfactorily meet all the conditions of vessels trading in the hot climates." Cap Trafalga~-Carmania itt An officer of the : Carmania; -in a letter Home, describes the sinking of, merchant. cruiser: the German armed Cap Trafalgar by the Carmdnia. says: 'We sighted the ship.about 10 a. m. on Sept. 14, in the South Atlantic. She was coaling from a collier, and two others were standing off. On sighting us the Cap Trafalgar hurried ofi, mothering the collier, and soon after the latter steered to the eastward and the Cap Trafalgar proceeded southwards. We steamed after her at top speed, and when about four miles off. she turned and steamed. towards us. 'We were cleared for action, He and had been standing by our guns for. some time, all strangely fascinated by the movements of our enemy. When about four miles off we fired our challenge, shot across her bows, and immediately after this she displayed her colors at the masthead, and fired her first shot from her starboard after euns. This shot came mighty close over our heads, dropping in the water. "Then the firing from both ships became fast and furious; projectiles and splinters from bursting shells showered around us. The engage- ment commenced at 12:10 midday, and tasted hot until about 1:10 p. m., when she showed signs of having been badly hit, and was taking a heavy list visions of 487 to starboard, being on fire fore and aft. We were--also on fire on our fere-bridge, our bridge telegraphs and steering gear were completely wrecked, and the captain's cabin, the chart- house, and a number of officers' quar- ters were gutted. We were also badly holed by her gun fire. "When we found we had crippled our enemy, and that she was sinking, we ceased firing, although her colors. were still flying. She gradually listed over until her funnels nearly touched the water. Then she settled down forward until her second funnel almost disappeared. At last she rolled over, showing her keel and propellers, stood up on end, and gradually. assumed @ perpendicular position, and dived out of sight. We could make out some boats with survivors, and one of the colliers rendered assistance. We had to clear away. because low down on the horizon the signalman saw the smoke and what appeared to be the German cruiser Dresden. "We steered away south, and ther doubled on our course, by that time darkness was setting in, and we thus escaped her clutches. From the time we fired our first shot until the Cap Trafalgar disappeared was one: hour forty minutes. About 200 souls must have perished on board her. We had five killed, four died of wounds, and about 35 were wounded. This battle was a real duel, probably the only one of its kind on record. The Cap Trafalgar: was about "our own size, and carried a similar number of guns." Watch Officers on American Ships Supervisor Inspector George Uhler of the Steamboat Inspection Service has sent to the various inspectors the fol- lowing interpretation of the executive order suspending the provision that watch officers on foreign ships admitted to American register under the recent ship registry bill shall be AaneEES S citi- zens: "Tt is understood that under. 'ns pro- this Executive Order all: watch officers of American ships must be American. citizens, except the watch officers of foreign-built ships admitted to American: registry under the pro-. visions of an Act approved August 18, 1914. These officers must hold a license: issued bythe Steamboat-Inspection Ser- vice, but in the examination of such officers for United States license: the re- quirement of American citizenship is. waived, for a period of seven years. "Inspectors will, therefore, admit to the examination for United States-- license any person serving as a: watch ©