Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-31
ELlMlNATE CHLORINE
FROM u. S. SUBMARINES
Edison's New Storage Bnttery Proves
Efficient, but Inventor Demands
Further Tests.


NEW YORK, August 30.-Rejoicing
over tho confidence expressed by naval
I officers that his new storage batteries
s would make United States submarines
! the most efficient in the world. Thomas
I a. Edison nevertheless has expressed
! the wish that final Judgment be with
) held pending the outcome of practical
tests in the L. s. s. E-2.
Z As a result OF tests in laboratory
( apparatus Stimulating the rocking ac
ton of a boat at the New York Navy
; Yard the technical officers there have
F. expressed the conviction that the dan
[ ger from the deadly chloride gas peril,
which now prevails in submarines, will
be obviatcd.
They also believe that on account Of
the superior compactness and iiEhtness
of the new battery, combined with
greater capacity, 1t will be possible to
increase materially the undersen cruis-
ing range Of Uncle Sans submarines.
In addition 10 this. they look for great
er speed. counting on an all-round in
crease of 40 per cent in the strategical
efficiency of tho boats
sNNAN'rs ACTUAL SERVICE
.s.,a,--,-=y.r.- TESTS TO PROVE SUCCESS
"of course, that is very good news"
Mr. Edison said when he was told Of
the naval experts enthusiasm over his
battery. after thirteen months lnbora-
tory tests; but let no Judgment ho
passed until the battery has actually
been placed and used on a submarine.
Then II II proves successful and adds
to the healthfulness of our crews be-
low the sea and is an asset 10 the navy
,'rny work OF it shall not have been in
vain"
The first intimaton to the public
that Edison had turned his genius to
solving the problem OF submarine navi-
cation came At visit he made with
= Secretary Daniels of the Navy, to the
j New York Navy Yard several months
naEo. The battery tests were then in
nproEress.
J. AT that time Mr.. Edison made an
teven more startling prediction. He
said that TO his mind there was no rea-
son why the undcrsca boats should not
be supplied with n fish gill-likc appa-
ratus. so that they could draw their
supply OF air directly from tho water.
instead of the lives of their crews
being dependent upon the compressed
air supply. or on the ability Of the
boat to reach the surface.
If this was perfected, he pointed out,
the danger of submarine navigation
would be reduced to Il minimum. There
shave been reports since that time that
sNhe WIS making pIpSTcSS on Sucn 4 Oe-
vice, hut no definite announcement has
= been made yet.
MADE 55oo0 EXPERIMENTS
AT COST OF $4,000. 600
Not until now has the complete his
Atory Of the new storage battery be-
= come known. In 1910 Lieutenants
Fred V. McNair, 7. G.. Ellyson. lie Petit
Warren and Alfred H Miles visited Mr.
IHtson at his laboratory and asked
him TO concentrate his efforts on the
invention ~ "a but
ing chemicals that would not attack
! fastenlngs in submarines. and which,
Z when reached by salt water would not
. generate chlorine gas or other dan
: gerous fumes.
I The officers pointed out the needs of
the navy, which had been Handicapped
because submarines had TO lay up for
u period annually TO have the lead bat
-Leries oHerhaUled. For four years Mr.
i !Edlson worked coasolesSly. conducting
mo less than $1,000 experiments at a
Icost OF almost SS.O00,0CO, and at last
Sperfecting the submarine battery for
=. which he has already received three
: gold medals
: Because of the nature OF the CON
struction of the battery. submarines
: may dive 20 AN angle of co degrees
{ whereas they have formerly only been
oble 10 dive at an angle OF about Is
: degrees
: Not sa,!saed with the tests he had
scoHHuctcc AZ MS Ia bOratOry with the
sinvent!on. Mr.. Edison insisted Oh hav-
a1ng II taken 10 the navy-yard early in
sJuly 1915. and s1.jected to the most
.drasi!c tests kHT'wn' TO naval experts.
: The battery was put on rolling and
pitching platform aud charged and re-
enlarged 55A times while the platform
was in motion. This was 10 determine
whether tho battery would stand up in
ise In submarine travelling in a con.
!. tNucLs seaway
Not only has the capacity after th,r-
: teen months test proved TO be what
Mr. Edison told Secretary Daniels i,
wca!d pe, bat il has been found TO be
that. plus % pc: cent, The test TO
which the battery was subjected Is
~ is figured. equivalent - ten years
service IL submarine which is
charged only ABOUT once Il week
1t Is generally believed AT the Edison
laboratories that the Investigation into
the eaus" Of the catastrophe 10 the FL
In Honolulu harhor VIII show Il was
scaused by IN explosion due 70 tie irni
suon Of hydrogen md oxvren gas CEN
.erated by lead batteries
DIME chIISEc MlIpDcp