The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-07-15
EDISON WILL
ENLIST To
PERFECT NAVY
HE HAS ACCEPTED
SECRETARY DANIELS OFFER
HEADS BOARD0F INVENTORS
Electrical Genius Says He VIII Work
For the Advancement and De
yelopment of the United
States Navy.

States Navy.
Washington, July 13.-Announce-
ment by Thomas A. Edison that ne
had accepted Secretary Daniels Of
fer to head an advisory board of civ
ilian inventors for the proposed bu-
reau of invention and development
in the navy department was received
with qualification today by naval OF
ficials. Secretary Daniels was espec-
tally pleased, because on Mr.. Edl-
sons acceptance depended almost en-
tirely the development of the secre-
tarys plan of utilizing the inventive
genius of the country in perfecting
the navy as fighting machine.
Mr.. Daniels, who appealed to Mr..
Edison to take the place on patriotic
grounds, said today details of the
new organization would not be com
pleted until he had conferred with
Mr.. Edison on the subject. 1T Is
planned to have men prominent IN
special lines of inventive and re
search work associated with the bu-
reau, several names already being
under consideration.
One of the big problems to be laid
before the new bureau will be that
of improving the nayy's submarines
and aeroplanes Referring in his let
ter to Mr.. Edison to submarine war
fare. Secretary Daniels said he felt
sure that with Mr.. Edison's wonder
full brain to help them, the officers
of the navy would be able ito meet
this new danger with new devices
that will assure peace to our coun-
try by their effectiveness"
Another important task of the bu-
reau will be to make careful study
with a view to their possible adop-
ton OF all the numerous suggestions
and inventions which are received
: almost daily by the navy department
from naval officers and civilians
These now are handled by various
bureaus already overcrowded with
routine work.
NJ. r. S. Hutchison, personal rep
resentatiye of Mr. Edison, called OF
Secretary Daniels today and in
formed him of Mr.. Edisons accept
ance of the invitation.
"Mr. Hutchinson told me-" sait
Secretary Daniels, that Mr.. Edisor
regarded my invitation as call Z
!. duty. and that he would be glad t.
s render any service possible to MI
country. Mr.. Hutchison furthe
stated that Mr. Edison would send il
a few days a reply to my letter Q
invitation"
Secretary Daniels conferred witt
Rear Admirals Griffin, Taylor ant
7 Strauss, the naval officers who han
/ die problems of ordinance. construt
ton. engineering and electricity, a
70 the hest way to get the benefit 0
the advice of the citizen inventors
Is AS to the other advisory members :
be invited, Secretary Daniels said n
l. was not ready to make any announce
ment. but he felt assured that othe
men would respond to the call I
n duty. He expects to make announce
Is ment concerning them in few days
y "What we want tc do in this mat
N ter" said the secretary, is to al
ID peal to the American inventive &c
Is MUS to work for thfe navy and
ID study what we ought to do. We wan
4 them TO give us the best that the
~ can. Already since this war begai
~ much has been done with our ow
Q. resources. What has been done !
ID the last three months has not ye
I'd appeared, and work that is going Q
under supervision. of our own expert
Mt and engineers will continue. But To
lo idea OF the advisory board Will be
4 extend into the realms of the u
d known in naval construction and tf
n possibilities of naval warfare. v
ey want the advice of genius as to ne
lines. No one today is able. to te
y what such advice may bring lori
'ef We cannot tell today what kind OF
at battleship we should have thr'
- years hence.
"For the first time In twenty yea
we have had an opportunity to te