New-York tribune., 1907-11-10


crowded round, and the scientist. enjoying
The effect OF his words smiled and smoked. 4
moment pause cusucd while the -ibiliti,-
at the discovery dawued on them Those
"A" knew hI-u least were again que troniug
h,- -auitr, and then. as ., al ar once tu,r
could wait uu longer for ham ~ explain. ta,r
burst into chorus %, que rau- winch he
-il NOT answer. He waited until ra rafc, VIZ.
heard and thct began
That plate practically overcome friction.
Ny assistant my daughter Norma. and ] have
made ~,Ncra. tc.t- before ] raw, her. with lf
Thee, We're cast and tested last night ! am
not gong into scientific details bgt TIM
uu.l ] II make plain s -uir coated along
certain lines with t.4t metal. '.,.t~.A,a only
2. a point w.D-, She WHu-. mos sink t.r lack
- upport. can T,lug, her slu friction caused
lv ID, water 2. point where h,r U,,3 would
Dee .mcthing hitherto unknown. lt would u'
course uoau lighter aruautut-. h.O.u-, fh.
lighter the dead tonnage the greater The buoy
augv. BUT Cd cruiser with few long range.
high explosive guH-. that can trave. ~ th,
marine that can make that speed for twenty
taur hours - stretch. would play hav..
with amy navy IN tho world.
The room was a.,l, v,th ,<-itrl mon now
rr, ,u.I force at n-. statement came ia .l
II. e.,auc-- II that urhr.Hn meta. had that
u. .De~tv. and sufficient fighting ship. e.u..
a' armHred with IT Ir time q. meet the de-
ruarl- mad, upon them the Sea-. could De-
whipped into -ubIecuou and Icgluu- 10 troop.
trans ported before they could n. ,rr,rter,a
with The President himself bad '.-t h,. calm
mos. and wa. gripping fh. arm. .t ii. CHAIR
The Secretary ot the Navy. having tu, FraC-
tg4l point of view, came au' 90 als trance.
and mapped out q que tIau
lI.w long would il take 70 equip sr"- er
with those plato
Robert turned toward him Depend. on
III, r.art. TIL, platc- can b, cast and ,.r.trl-
mel Just as rapidly as You could cast sheet.
~ plain lruu and turn "a current INT. them
Iv- ] wish 10 experiment lttt." further iIr-t
and try them out on some old guubaat that
wauIJr'f amount u much il lost.
The room was again filled with q babel of
sound the officials began an argument. but
or one point they were agreed The man h,-
fore them was $50 well known that the Govern
mcut wa taking no great hazard In atording
him every means within its power o. carry
out ms work and. II he could do what hc DEE
hcvcd and Of that there seemed no room for
doubt the solution OF the approaching Wart 10;
any other was in their hands. The President
alone sat buried IL thought, hls brow drawn
into a frowu
Gentlemen" he said and there was that
IL his voice which demanded attention.
should like 70 ask DR. Robert ie" que uon~.
] wish o. know II This work OF hl- can hc car
ned on So secretly that no. other Iowcr-nut
one nor even the people OF tins cnuntrN-can
become aware Of his discovery, II ne can 7ug-
gcst a means for such conceaIment, II ms
work can bt done so cNpfQlltu@iNr WIN luil
Government support, that within three months
from tonight the American navy can bc So
equipped as 10 make II the most powerful IN
the world, and whether he realizes the ln-
portancc of such haste
The scientist threw his halt finished stogy
into the ash receiver before him and became
grave. He was the dignfcd, thoughtful man
again, weighing his words and sPe"klng with
!" Mr President he answered,
Il am not completely beyond the eXperl-
mental stage; but ! believe ] can plan such
secrecy as You desire and with the and OF men
and money make the United 0tates navy m
vincible III less than three months. ! would
almost stake my lfe and reputation on II
But whv. may ! ask, DO YOU desire TO keep II
from the worlds knowledge that YOU nave
such power,
The President walked up and down the
room with his hands behind his back as II IN q
dream while the Others waited Tor his reply.
" Because we are facing war with Japan q
skilful advanced, and cunning enemy and
there must be no risk OF its discovering our
secret. Its spies are everywhere III the land.
Hostilitics are TO be courted IN tins emergency
rather than declined, provided they can De
rendered harmless 10 ourselves and humane 10
our adversaries To talk of power without
it. IS as idle as a braggart
boasting To maintain silence and then prove
ability, IS to make ones action douOly I'M
pressIVe.