Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-10


of the discovery dawned them Those
who knew him least were again questioning
his sanity, and then, as If all at once they
could wait no longer for him to explain, they
burst into chorus of questions, which he
did not answer. He waited until no voice was
heard. and then began.
That plate practically overcomes friction
My assistant, my daughter Norma, and have
made several tests before l came here with it.
These were cast and tested last night. am
not going into scientific details; but this
much I'll make plain: ship coated along
certain lines with that metal, electrlhed only
to a point where she would not sink for lack
of support can reduce her skin friction caused
by the water to point where her speed would
be something hitherto unknown. 1t would OF
course mean lighter ornaments, because the
lighter the dead tonnage the greater the buoy
ancy. But cruiser with a few long range,
high explosive guns, that can travel at the
rate of forty or fifty miles an hour, or a sub
marine that make that speed for twenty
four hours at a stretch, would play havoc
with any navy in the world.
The room alive with excited men now
as the full force of his statement came in all
its clearness. If that unknown metal had that
property, and sufficient fighting ships could
be armored with it in time to meet the de-
mands made upon them, the seas could be
whipped into subsection and legions of troops
transported before they could be interfered
with. The President himself had lost his calm
ness and was gripping the arms OF his chair
The Secretary of the Navy, having the Prac-
teal point of view, came out OF his trance
and snapped out question:
How long would it take to equip cruiser
with those plates?"
Roberts turned toward him. Depends on
the plant. The plates can be cast and electri-
fed just as rapidly you could cast sheets
of plain iron and turn current into them
but | wish to experiment little further first
and try them out on some old gunboat that
wouldn't amount to much if lost.
The room was again filled with a babel of
sound, as the officials began an argument; but
fore them was so we'll known that the Govern
ment was taking no great hazard in affording
him every means within its power to carry
out his work, and, if he could do what he be-
leved, and of that there seemed no room tor
doubt, the solution of the approaching war, or
any other was in their hands: The President
alone sat buried in thought, his brows drawn
into frown.
Gentlemen" he said and there was that
in his voice which demanded attention, Il
should like to ask Dr. Roberts few questions.
l wish to know if this work of his can be car
RED on so secretly that no other Power-not
one, nor even the people OF this country-can
become aware of his discovery; II he can sug-
gest a means for such concealment; 1t his
work can be done SO expeditiously, with full
Government support, that within three months
from tonight the American navy can be so
equipped as to make it the most powerful in
the world; and whether he realizes the i'm
portance of such haste"
The scientist threw his half finished stogy
into the ash receiver before him and became
grave. He was the dignihed thoughtful man
again, weighing his words and speaking with
deliberation. "Mr President" he answered,
Il am not completely beyond the expert
mental stage: but l believe | can plan such
secrecy as YOU desire, and with the aid of men
and money make the United States navy in
vincible in less than three months. | would
almost stake my life and reputation on it.
But why, may | ask, do you desire to keep it
from the worlds knowledge that you have
such power?"
The President walked UP and down the
room with his hands behind his back as if in a
dream, while the others waited for his reply.
Because we are facing war with Japan, a
skilful, advanced, and cunning enemy, and
there must be no risk of its discovering our
secret Its spies are everywhere In the land.
Hostilities are to be courted in this emergency
rather than declined, provided they can be
rendered harmless to ourselves and humane to
our adversaries. To talk of power without
demonstrating it, is as idle as braggart's
boasting To maintain silence and then prove
ability, is to make ones action doubly i'm
pressive."
He started to say more, his big somber eyes
glowing with some new thought, and then, as
# afraid of his own conceptions, stood ex-
pectantly before his lifelong friend who was
facing him. bill, BILL he said brokenly,