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488 officer upon such foreign-built ships at the time they are admitted to American registry, but this exemption will not apply to any alien who is not employed as a watch officer of a foreign-built ship » admitted to American registry under this Act. "When a vacancy occurs within the next two years from September 4, 1914, among the watch officers of a foreign- built ship admitted to American registry under this Act, such vacancy may be filled by an officer without regard to citizenship. Such officer must hold a United States license, but the require- ments of citizenship as a qualification for examination is waived and any per- son may present himself for examina- tion for license. to fill such vacancy without regard to his citizenship or the condition -of service on foreign-built ships admitted to American registry. "By the same order the President has exempted from inspection by this Ser- vice for a period of two years from Sept. 4, 1914, all foreign-built vessels admitted to American registry under the provisions of the Act herein referred to, except such inspection as will be neces- sary to determine whether or not such vessels are fit to carry dry and perish- able cargo, as referred to in Depart- ment circular No. 240, dated Aug. 24, 1914. "GEORGE UHLER, "Supervising Inspector General." - Parsons Steam Turbine Co. The annual report of the directors of Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Co. states that during the past year the works have been fully occupied' in the construction of machinery for war and mercantile marine vessels, and_ the orders on hand will keep them fully employed during the current year. Up to the present time the total horsepower of marine turbines of the Parsons' type, completed and under construction in the works of the company, and of licenses, as well as in the works of the Continen- tal sub-companies, and licenses of Par- 'sons' Foreign Patents Co., Ltd., amounts to about 12,360,000 horsepower, an in- crease during the year of about 1,760,000 horsepower. Of this total nearly 10,- 510,000 horsepower is, or will be, em- ployed for propulsion of warships, and over 1,850,000 horsepower in vessels of the mercantile marine and yachts, The application of geared turbines to marine propulsion continues to be greatly ex- tended both for vessels of the mercan- tile marine and for vessels of war, and the vessels fitted with this system are giving every satisfaction. Since the issue of the last report, ves- sels have been ordered to be fitted with geared turbines for the Cunard company, THE MARINE REVIEW the Federal Steam Navigation Co., the Union Steamship Co. of New Zealand, the Canadian Pacific Railway Co., the Oceanic Steamship Navigation Co., the Ellerman Line Steamship Co., the Ven- ice-Alexandria Line, etc. The number of war vessels, passenger and cargo vessels now built or building, with all- geared or part-geared turbine machin- ery, included in the above totals, is 126, with an aggregate of about 1,000,000 horsepower, 62 such vessels with a total of 620,000 horsepower have been ordered since the date of the last report. Experimental investigation on pro- peller efficiency, carried out in the com- pany's tank, have given very valuable information, more especially in regard to the most suitable revolutions and pitch ratios for geared turbine installa- tions for attaining the highest efficiency in the various classes of vessels. The sum of $75,000 has been expended dur- ing the year on further experiments with gearing, blading, etc., the benefit of which has been shown in the satisfac- tory results obtained. Bids for Torpedo Boat Destroyers Bids opened at the Navy Depart- ment for six torpedo boat destroyers showed that the Fore River Ship Building Corporation, Quincy, Mass., had submitted the lowest estimates for two vessels under Class 2, pro- viding that the hull and equipment and specifications are to be in ac- cordance with those of the depart- ment, while the machinery is to be of the bidder's design. The Fore River bid for two vessels under this: class was $795,000 each. The William Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Co., Philadelphia, was the lowest bidder on three vessels under Class 1 to be constructed in accordance with plans and specifications provided by the department, including hull and turbine propelling machinery. This company's bid on three vessels was $834,000 each. Three was the highest number of vessels that any single company, ont of the six bidders, submitted figures on, and some made two distinct fig- ures under Class B to denote the kind of turbine to be used. Construc- tion of the vessels is to be completed within from 21 to 24 months, and speeds provided 2914 and 30 knots per hour. The bids in detail follow: Newport News Ship Building & Drydock Co., Newport News, Va, two vessels, Class 2, $885,000 each; two vessels, same class, Curtiss tur- bine, $875,000; Union Iron Works, San Francisco, Cal., two vessels, Class "type ever December, 1914 1, $880,000; Bath Iron Works, Bath, Me., one vessel, Class 2, $864,000; two vessels, same class, $850,000; three vessels, same class, $850,000; Seattle Construction Drydock Co., Seattle, Wash., one vessel, Class 2, $873,000; two vessels, same class, $860,000; Fore River Ship Building Corporation, one vessel, Class 1, $872,000; two vessels, same class, $852,000; one vessel, Class 2, $889,000; two vessels, same class, $867,000; one vessel, same class, with modifications, $815,000; two vessels, same class, with modifications, $795,- 000; William Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Co., one vessel, Class 1, $859,000; two vessels, same class, $847,000; three vessels, same class, $834,000; one vessel, Class 2, $853,000; two vessels, same class, $841,000; three vessels, same class, $830,000; one vessel, same class, with modifica- tions, $845,000; two vessels, same class, with modifications, .$834,000; three vessels, same class, with modi- fications, $825,000. Congress last June authorized these vessels, with the provision that each was not to exceed in cost $925,000 each, exclusive of armament. They will be the largest vessels of this built for the navy, and will have a displacement of 1,110 tons, each to carry four 4-inch rapid-fire guns, four torpedoes and two _ one- pounder automatic anti-aircraft guns. It is an innovation of the United States navy to install guns meant to prevent attack by aircraft. Bids for eight submarines, not to cost more than $4,460,000, will be opened at the Navy Department on Dec. 15. One submarine is to be of the seagoing type, with a _ surface speed of not less than 20 knots, and seven are to be of the coast and har- bor defense tyne. If it is possible tu obtain more submarines within the amount appropriated their con- struction is authorized. It is specified that at least three of the coast defense submarines shall be built on the Pacific coast, if the bids submitted from that quarter do not exceed the cost on the Atlantic coast plus the cost of transportation from the east to the Pacific. The Hamburg-American Line has $27,000,000 in idle ships for sale, 43 ves- sels being held at American ports. The company is reducing its forces, but the German law does not permit of the discharge of crews, unless they are re- turned to Germany, and this cannot be done at this time. Thus the mainten- ance of these men has cost the com- pany $3,500,000 so far, not counting $2,- 000,000 lost in returned passage money.