A CARGO SHIP of revolutionary design that can be produced by hundreds has been perfected and shortly will complete its final tests, according to a statement issued by the Navy Department.

Conceived by daring minds and carried to completion with the active, insistent help of President Roosevelt, the new ship embodies a novel arrangement of propulsion never before similarly used in ocean-going freighters. Light in weight, simple in construction, relatively cheap both in original cost and upkeep, this craft, it is confidently believed, will challenge the submarine and provide a new bridge from this country to the free nations of the world.

The first requirement of the designers was a craft of shallow draft, and small cost, which could be produced in large numbers and which would reduce the leases, both in material and manpower, in time of war. The "Sea Otter," as the freighter is called, will carry a net 1500 tons of cargo.

The real revolution in design, however, was wrought in the application of power. A means has been discovered of driving a six foot propeller, not on the stern of the ship, but sunk into the water amidships. No less than sixteen gasoline engines, such as are used in propelling motor boats, drive the vertical shaft much after the manner of the outboard motor. The engines are of 110 horsepower, six cylinders, developing a total of 1,700 brake horsepower. The whole propellor assembly can be hoisted up and replaced while underway.

A valuable feature of the "Sea Otter" will be found in its relatively small size. It is only 270 feet long overall and when loaded, displaces 1,900 tons. Therefore, it can be built at inland yards and taken to sea by way of rivers or canals.

The first proposal to build such a ship was made early this year. Many objections were raised and overcome, due to the intense interest of the President and Secretary of the Navy Knox in the baffling problem of meeting the submarine menace. If our goods were to go to Britian in ever increasing quantity, some means had to be found of replacing lost tonnage quickly and cheaply.

Engineers now believe a "Sea Otter" can be turned out, after the plans are standardized, in two months. Using many yards, there is no reason why the tonnage produced could not offset the tonnage lost at sea.

The total full capacity for long range at about 12 knots per hour gives this amazing craft 8 range of nearly 7,000 nautical miles and at normal capacity it is capable of a radius of 5,000 miles. They will mount a suitable anti-aircraft battery;

The first of the "Sea Otters" is now ready for its deep sea tests, and so much experimental work has been completed, first for a model in the testing basin, and then with a small scale craft, that its success is virtually a foregone conclusion. Work on the standardized parts can then proceed with every expectation that a large and mobile fleet of "Sea Otters" will be afloat within a year.

We offer without comment—the following unsolicited item from Leonard Lyons' popular column in the Detroit Free Press:
RIVALRY:The North Caroline is the most publicized battleship in the United States Navy. Every move made by the North Carolina has received publicity in the newsreels, newspapers and magazines. Her sister ship, the Washington, is her equal in every department, but has received little attention. ... Recently, while one ship was going north and the other south, they passed each other off the Virginia Capes. They passed as closely as possible. The crew of the North Carolina was greeted by the band of the Washington assembled on the deck--the band which blared "Here Comes the Show Boat."

IN THE cold grey dawn of an unbrotherly temperature, our up and coming basketball team arose to the call of the fighting Cougar and last Saturday a.m. took control of the air from the Army Air Corps team at the Y.M.C.A. by a final score of 47--31. W-"hoops!"

This makes three games now in three times out, which, according to our arithmetic, adds up to exactly 100%. And no shipmates will ever require a better average from his teams.

We again desire to express our gratification at the splendid teamwork among these boys that makes their victories possible. Although Richison again came through with the most points (14), he at no time made his baskets to the detriment of well balanced team function. The following box score indicates that each man was in there pitching, and in future games we may well see any of the other players making the most points.

Sarno, the parachuting Marine, after a slow start in the first two games, finally "got the range" and came through this time for 9 points.

It may also be mentioned that Joe Gendron, the team's manager, has done a splendid job and in continuance of same promises to have numbers on the players' jerseys before the next game.

All-in-all, we can well be proud of the first Cougar basketball team and its enviable record. Congratulations from an appreciative crew. And to the crew---keep your weather eye on the dope sheet for announcement of the next game.
---------------J. J.

A man went before a draft board to take the physical examination. Falling down on the eye test he was told that he was discharged. Hurrying away he entered a nearby movie. In the meantime, the doctor who had examined his vision, came in and sat beside him. As the medico stared hard at him the "fugitive" smiled and said: "Excuse me, mister, am I on the right bus to Norfolk?"

MILLIONS of books will be provided for men in the armed forces of the United States and the Merchant Marine through a National Defense Book Campaign, sponsored by the American Library Association, the American Red Cross, and the United Service Organizations.

The books will be collected in libraries throughout the country for distribution to army camps, naval bases, USO clubs and other service centers. From five to ten million volumes are expected to be provided through the campaign, designed to supplement the library services provided :by the Government.

Under the program outlined for the campaign, civilians throughout the country will be asked to contribute books, delivering them to the nearest public school or institutional library or to volunteers from cooperating local groups who will collect them and turn them in to the libraries. In communities where no libraries are situated, schools or other places will be designated as collection centers. All books obtained will be classified and listed and reports will be sent to headquarters of the National Defense Book Campaign in New York City, where a distribution control system will be operated.

ADIOS----to Lt. H. C. Spicer, Jr. ----and every success in your new duties.
CONGRATULATIONS-- to 1st Lt. and Mrs. J. D. Hittie upon the arrival of a son. The young Cougar's name----Harry McArthur Hittle.

Loyalty, what is it? It's what made you tell the other kids your Dad could lick theirs, when you were ten years old. It's what made you boast that your high school team could whip any other in the state, when you were a few years older. It's what made you stand by your buddy, even when you knew he hadn't been entirely right and told him so when you were alone. Loyalty's a lot of things. You've seen a little woman take in washing and look after her children when her no-account husband, wouldn't support them. That was both loyalty and love. You've seen a woman take back that good-for-nothing husband, and have said that you couldn't see why she did it. Maybe she didn't know why herself, but it was loyalty, loyalty to the love she once had for him and to the marriage vows that were taken "for better or for worse". Loyalty makes us do a lot of things that we don't exactly understand, and sometimes things make heroes of us. One of the men who stood at the White House and had the Medal of Honor presented to him by President Coolidge a few years ago wasn't thinking about that day he was safely outside the rammed submarine but jumped back inside and closed the manhole when he recalled that some shipmates were below, where they would drown if they weren't warned. It wasn't any thought of medals that made him do that, but it was instinctive loyalty to those friends that had worked day after day. Loyalty can't be bought, for the genuine article costs too much for any money a man may have. Loyalty is the reward that others bestow on those who are themselves loyal, who do their bit of the world's task each day as true men in a worthwhile common job.

The United States Navy is the greatest in the world today. It wouldn't be except for the loyalty of the men who man its ships. We have inherited this valuable heritage. Cherish it; develop it; instill it in those with whom we have contact. A loyal people are a united people and in unity there is strength.

All play the varied game of life,

  With chance to win or lose;

The game goes on from day to day,

  Baffle or amuse.



Some play the game with confidence,

  Some paralyzed with fear;

Some play with high expectancy,

  Some fail when victory's near.



Some play it nervously and fast,

  Some stack the cards to cheat;

Some play to pass the time away.

  Some, white-faced, meet defeat.



Play on, my friend, the game of life,

  No matter how hard you fare;

Play on, play hard, and play to win,

  But always play it square!

                          Anon.

James Madison was the first President of the United States to wear long trousers while in office...... Anyone can hypnotize a frog...... Andrew Carnegie gave away more than $300,000,000...... Many of the books made for the Popes and Kings of the Middle Ages actually cost their weight in gold...... Raccoons wash their food before eating it...... The State of Maine touches only one other State...... Paderewski had seven pianos in his home...... The average American eats one hundred and thirty-seven pounds of meat a year...... Penguins cannot fly...... Rubens charged for his pictures according to the time he used in painting them. He valued his time at fifty dollars a day...... Brightly colored birds never lay beautifully colored eggs...... Louisa M. Alcott, the famous writer of juvenile fiction, was a volunteer nurse in the South during the Civil 'War...... Squids swim backwards...... lightning has been known to strike the same building several times during a single electrical storm ...... Leonardo da Vinci devoted four years to the "Mona Lisa"...... Sugar exposed to the effects of radium turns into Caramel...... Hilaire Belloc, one of the greatest living Catholic writers, once served as a driver in a regiment of French artillery...... The Baya bird of India lights her nest by sticking several large and brilliant fireflies in its clay walls...... St. Isidore passed his entire life as a hired man on a farm...... About 40,000 roses are required to yield one ounce of attar...... Ducks protect their young from injury during heavy showers of rain or hail by huddling them together and then standing over them with outstretched wings...... Wordsworth was certain he had won a place in history and never hesitated to admit it...... Field Ambulances were originated by St. Camillus de Lellis--the true founder of the Red Cross...... The Japanese Dancing Mouse waltzes round and round, for no particular reason at all...... Mozart composed some of his most famous works while ill...... The modern automobile is cheaper than pork chops--it sells for around twenty cents a pound...... There is an astronomical clock in the choir of the cathedral of Beauvais, France, which stands forty feet high, has fifty-two dials, and is composed of ninety thousand parts.

"I hear she's checking up on him."
"Thought it was a savings account she was interested in."

Slim Man: "You mean to say you weigh only 135 pounds?"
Fat Lady: "Yes sir; 135 pounds and 898 ounces."

The policeman's sweetie said her boy friend wasn't ideal but he'd do in a pinch.

Police Chief: "So you got the guilty man, eh?"
New Police Officer:' "I don't know, sir. But I got the guiltiest-looking man I could find."

"I have more girls on my hands than I know what to do with."
"I don't believe it."
"It's true. I'm a golf instructor at a girl's finishing school."

With some people, riding colthes are just a habit.

"What's your favorite vegetable?"
"Succotash, but I never could figure out how to grow it."

Yeoman: "Your wife called and said she couldn't meet you downtown at 1700."
Chief: "Well, that's a wait off my mind."

York: "I have a trained dog at home."
Davis: "Zat so? What tricks does he do?"
York: "Baseball tricks: he catches flies, chases fowls and beats it for home when he sees the catcher coming."

Miller: "Will I get advanced in rating after I'm at sea awhile?"
C.P.O.: "Yes, if you work and study hard."
Miller: "I knew there war some catch to it."

First C.P.O.: "How long did it take your wife to learn to drive?"
Second C.P.O.: "Well, let's see, it'll be just eleven years next August."