The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-31
NEWRESEARCHE INPHYSICS
FOR Benefit OF /. S. NAVY
THE recently organized Naval
Consulting Board, Of which
Thomas A. Edison IL chairman,

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made at its first session but
M definite recommendation TO be
submitted to Congress. This took the
form Of approval Of q plan whereby
the United States navy should estab-
llsh an experimental research labora-
tory to cost approximately 5000. 900.
with annual operating expenses Of
from $2.500.00 o to 33.O00,0oo. The
twenty-three members Of tho board
wore Unanimous in the opinion that
the establishment Of such . laboratory
10 absolutely necessary II the navy IL
TO have the advantages that applied
science may be expected to bring.
Prof. Arthur Gordon Webster Of
Clark University. Worcester. Mass,
the only physicist on the board. In q
conversation with a Sun reporter ex-
planned the functions Of research in
connection with the navy. and out
lined some Of the subjects that might
be investigated by the proposed lab
oratory.
Almost all the problems Of the
navy said DIR. Webster. ARE prob
lens Of physics. chemistry or mathe-
MATES. Ships float and sail Of water
and water is q physical medium. The
stability. resistance and propulsion Of
ships are questions of physics. Aero
nautics and aviation are particularly
questions Of physics. and the entire
subject Of aviation Is under enormous
obligations to a distinguished Amer
lean physicist. the late Prof. g. =.
Langley. for the experimental develop
~An 80 NhA 1ax,o x,hirl onah1oA NhA
Wright brothers to develop the aero
plane.
The whole question Of ordnance and
artillery. involving the production Of
enormous prcssures and the develop
men OF intense strains in the tube Of
. i;un Is a question Of physics and
MAJ be investigated in a physical
laboratory by such a man. say. as
Prof. p. w. Bridgman Of Harvard.
The question Of explosives is. Of course,
primarily chemical, but the investiga-
ton Of the waves Of explosion and the
propulsion Of the projeetile Ia entirely
q physical one.
"All these matters demand a ire
mendous amount Of experimental and
mathematical research by the most
competent scientists before they can
be considered solved. We have in the
navy at present certain facilities for
the performance Of research. but In
my opinion not nearly enough. As an
example, We have the great naval
model basin at Washington, which is
one Of the finest Of its kind in the
world. In this large models Of every
ship constructed for the navy and Of
many more hat are never constructed
ere towcd at various speeds in order
to find out the best forms for the con-
struction OF ships, and 10y means OF
the results thus obtained the expendi-
ture for coal in the navy has been
reduced in a remarkable degree.
1t Is obvious that difficult research
Of the very technical sort described
cannot be done BY the first man who
may happen to he detailed for such
purpose. There will be in any mill
tary establishment only a very few
officers whose training and taste NJ
them to Engage in. TO say nothing OF
taking charge Of. such research. The
system that at present prevails in the
navy Of detailing an officer TO be the
head Of an establishment for a certain
limited time. and then sending him to
sea. would obviously play havoc with
the operation OF such an undertaking
as we propose. We have therefore
recommended that If such a laboratory
IL placed under the command Of a
naval officer he be not taken off from
his very important duties there and
80 A. onennl IN vsaVSbin m
matter how large.
III Congress grants the appropria-
ton that We suggest. in order that this
proposed laboratory may be estab-
i!shed-and 1t is generally believed
that II will do so-this rule Of the
navy will not be the only difficulty
in its operation. The members Of the
board appreciate that perhaps the
greatest problem in connection with
the establishment OF this laboratory
will be the obtaining OF properly fitted
men to do the research work. Some
OF these of course could be obtained in
the navy. but many of them would
have to be taken from civil life.
We appreciate that the governing
factor in this laboratory should be alb
solute secrecy, and 1t seems most fit-
ting that the men who are to be
trusted with these most vital secrets
of defence should be members Of the
navy, who are bound in a special
manner TO protect them. The United
States navy has been most fortunate
in the large number of men among
it's officers OF noteworthy scientific
achievement. and We should be care
full not to discourage young men in
the Naval Academy from specialize
ing In matters of scientific research.
On the contrary, in my opinion, they
should be encouraged to go much
more deeply into scientific investiga-
ton than ever before,
I'm spite OF the fact that tho work
Of the Naval Consulting Board was
clearly outlined by Secretary Daniels
there still seems TO be a general mis-
understanding Of its purpose. The
name first propOsed-the Civilian
Board OF Inventions for tho Navy
seemed to be too long. and I there
fore suggested that a shorter name
he proposed. As the term advisory
might give offence, We suggested that
|. be changed to consulting and at
my suggestion the short term, Naval
Consulting Board. vas adopted.
THE impression still seems to be
general that the board was organized
to produce inventions ID that each
member would DO expected to con-
tribute his share toward the inven-
49, - u,p,har ~ nan, opA startlinu