Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-07
ADVISORY BOARD
ORGANIZES TODAY
Thomas A. Edison Chosen
Chairman of New
Naval Body.
ONLY MEMBERS ARE
PRESENT AT MEETING
Secretary Daniels, However, Confers
With Them for a Short Time, But
Suggestions Are Not Made Public.

Announcement of the election
of officers of the civilian naval ad-
visory board was made by that
body late this afternoon just be-
fore adjourning for a belated
luncheon at the Army and Navy
Club, at which Secretary Daniels
was host.
| The officers are Thomas A.
Edison of Orange, N. J., chair
man; Peter Cooper Hewitt of
New York, first vice chairman
William L. Saunders of Plain
field, N. J., second vice chairman /;
Thomas Robins of Stamford,
Conn.,, secretary; M. R. Hutchin-
son $, of Orange N. j. assistant to
the chairman.
| Contrary to expectations the advis-
| ory board found it impossible to ad-
5ourn today in time to take a o'clock
train to New York. So many matters
| of interest were discussed, both scient
tif1c and administrative, that the board
could not organize itself into commit
tees in time for an announcement to-
day. The meeting was in the library
of the Navy Department behind closed
doors, but members of the committee
| said afterward that the discussions
were on an infinite variety of very in
teresting technical topics and that
| there had not been time to assign diff
ferent members to special committees
or subcommittee, but that it is hoped
this will be done before night
Only members of the board were
present at the meeting, although secre-
tary Daniels conferred with them for
a short time. He would not disclose
what suggestions he had made.
The Secretary thought, however. that
the plan of the board was to give
early consideration to the preparation
of recommendations for adequate re-
search facilities for its use and that
of the navy experts who will Cooper
ate on various problems.
Board Will Divide Its- Work.
The Secretary said Fhes understood
also that the board would divide its
work among committees, electrical
tee composed of electrical engineers,
| steam problems to steam engineers, and
SO on.
Board and Officers to Cooperate.
Contrary to expectations of certain
| naval officers and writer's on payal .af-
fairs. the higher ranking officers of the
navy have expressed cordially their
hope that the civilian board and the
officers of the navy will be able to CO.
operate to the fullest extent. The ad-
vfsory board is to be research body
II seems. and Is not to take any duties
from the shoulders Of naval men. On
the Mayhower trip to Indian Head yes
terday afternoon the civilians and the
officers had several hours in which to
get together and sound each other out
! Both sides found a spirit of Willingness
to help and cooperate existing between
them.
1t is said, however, that several Of
the civilian members came here with a
slight feeling of embarrassment be-
| cause of the publication in certain
quarters Of the statement that navy
| men resented the interference of civil
| ian scientists.
After the trip down the river yester-
| day. the talks between officers and
| scientists. and after the get-to-gether
| meeting last night. there is not the
Daniels said today there never was
any.
Several of the scientists have decid-
ed ideas on certain highly technical
| points In connection with naval mat
ters. and these were expressed last
night. A free discussion Of matters so
complicated and technical as to give
| the laymen headache brought out
| fine feeling of good fellowship between
both sides of the equation.
Shows Interest in Wireless.
On the trip to Indian Head. Md. yes-
| terday Thomas A. Edison, chairman Of
the board. took considerable interest in
the navy wireless apparatus aboard the
yacht. and sent message to Arlington
as follows:
Congratulations on your big Arlington
plant 1 have heard the small and large
sets seated in the wireless room Of the
Mayfiower and they are great"
The message was received at Arlington
by Capt. Bullard. superintendent of the
big towers. He flashed this reply to the
Mayfiower:
MY compliments to Mr. Edison and the
members Of the naval 4dvisory board by
| TINS message. transmitted on the 100
kilowatt spark set"
At Indian Head several big gun feats
were performed for the board. One Of
these was the changing Of a rifle barrel
during firing. The largest guns were put
through their PAGES. and a newly designed
machine rife was demonstrated
Officers Pledge Cooperation.
| At meeting last night behind closed
| doors several high officers Of the navy
pledged their cooperation to, the. boa I'd
and offered suggestions as to pressing
| needs of the navy. .,...
Judge Advocate General Mclean sue-
gesteI experiments with vapious unper-
fected methods for rendering periscopes
invisible; Rear Admiral Strauss urged
development of some means to lessen
erosion in big guns: Rear Admiral Blue
pointed out the need of more accurate
! instruments to enable aviators to deter
mine their exact position in the air.
No satisfactory steam engine has been
developed for use of the navy, though
practically every existing type has been
tried, Rear Admiral Taylor told the
board. 1t has been suggested that de-
velopment Of such an engine might be
| one OF the first problems to which the
board would address itself.
Urges Aero Instruments.
| Rear Admiral Blue, chief Of the bu-
reau of navigation. told of a recent
incident In the. lighting line OF Europe
where an aviator after long fight
dropped bombs upon what he supposed
to be hostile city, but learned to his
horror that he had fred upon neutral