The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-16
MACHINES TO FIGHT
NEXT WAR-EDISON
Warns L. $. to Get Ready to
Turn Out. but Not stock,
Munitions.
FAITH IN VOLUNTEERS

CHICAGO. oct. 15.-"America is a
country of ideas and the greatest ma
cfine nation in the world said Thomas
A. Edison, chairman Of the United states
Naval Advisory Board, in his private
car at the Northwestern Station tonight.
Mr.. Edison, who with his party passed
through Chicago on the way to san
Francisco, rave a glowing vision OF the
part he expects the United States to
play when the nation is next called upon
to defend itself.
our next war will he the machine
war-the war Of brains rather than
blood" said the inventor. at is my
opinion that we should substitute ma
chimes for men. so that the efficiency Of
each man In time OF war could be mul-
tiplied by twenty through the aid Of
machinery.
"Bu the country must be prepared
! for the ordeal. The two largest fac
tors in bringing about this preparation
are the newspapers and Congress. The
| must arouse the people so
| that Congress will act In the right di-
rection."
Mr.. Edison. will You give your opin-
ion on preparedness? 90 he was asked.
Everybody has opinions on prepared
ness he replied. Fortunately, we are
a nation of ideas. Many of these
opinions are good. Since the formation
of the Advisory Board. suggestions and
ideas have been flooding in upon me
from all walks of life. There are many
good ones among them. ! am trying
to classify them now. ! wac surprised
to learn how many bank presidents car
ried in their heads ideas of marvellous
improvements that could be made Oh
aeroplanes and submarines.
To solve the Powder Question.
zone illustration will give my opinion
of preparedness better than anything
else. There is a certain amount of pow
der that is shot up in Europe every
day. None Of the nations has enough
All OF them need more than they have
But We know 10Y much they are using
1T would Ice economy FOR us to erec'
factories with capacity for turning ouj
daily just twice as much powder as IL
being shot up in Europe every day
These factories would not he so cN'
pensive. But don't turn out any powder
Just keep the factories ready to do ;
when 1t is needed.
" NV ~ 'FN'
shells ON lathes. as they are being pro
duced in Europe to-day. perfect ma
chimes should hc constructed that vii
he capable of making these shells AT
rate Nv &c as great as that at whtcl
shells are used every day In Europe
only don't make. any shells, Just keel
the machinery creased up SO that II ear
he put TO work any day turning ou
the shells.
Then start storing up steel and cop
per hillets. They won't spoil. Anlas
an m supply of them, ~ that IN
ammunition factories could be started t
work At any tim. and kept going for
long time on material immcd ately Of
hand.
I'm other words. have the potent ait,
rather than the thing Itself; aye ~
capacity. but don't put II in use unit,
the time arrives. AM sort Of down -
great military establ Shments with tn
storing up of enormous amounts of pr,
pared ammunition,
II don't htiuk that We need any cuoi
nous standing army. but We do need
large number of trained officers.
W should taxi the greatest pain
in the education OF these officers :
that they will he able to take hold ,
training the volunteer forces. which
am still inclined To gamhl" on. The
these officers after complete educAtio
: should he turned back into industry.