New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-16
Says Navy Must Be Alive
TO Inventive Possiblll-
ties of Future.
APMORED VESSELS
MAY BE OBSOLETE
Circulars To Be Sent to Invent
ors Showing Department
Needs, Says Secretary.

cruisers impOsSlOlS'
is impossible in modern naval deVe!-
opment."
Secretary Daniels made this asser-
ton to-day to show the scope OF the
new naval advisory committees inves-
legations.
It was quite within the range OF
possibility, the Secretary said that
before many years submarine battle
ships would be found practicable WIN WIN
a speed and cruising radius suPsl 'o'
20 first class fighting ships no" auo" t.
The main thing necessary IN -"G9'
who direct the navy's progress ne "v'
clared. was the realization that any
thing might happen. 2:.,.
Just the other day." Mr.. DanIe!s
said. Admiral Craddock asked me II
| had ever seen coat Of mail IN a
museum. | told him | had, and ne
nredicted that within few years
would have TO 20 20 museum 20 see
battleship armor. Many people might
saw such statements were preposter-
Gus. but | do not find them so. we
have discovered that breastp.ates and
helmets are more of hindrance .oan
a nrotection to soldiers. Perhaps We
shall find armor is just as useless ana
inst as encumbering 10 our dread
noughts."
Confers with Edison.
These are some OF the questions which
the Secretary hopes the new naval 40
yisory committee, headed by no mas
Edison. will be able 10 decide. Inc
Secretary left for West Orange y. D.
shortly after noon to-day to speha
the evening with Mr.. Edison discuss
ing plans and personnel tie VIII DC
back at his desk tomorrow.
Before leaving to-day, secretary
Daniels gave out statement elaoC-
rating some Of the methods by when
he hopes to encourage inventors ms
present plan 8 to provide specihca-
lions telling yentors what the navy
needs. and giving the requirements
Win sufficient miAuteness to De OF
genuine assistance. In this way, ne
thinks. many of the impractica!
schemes now devised will be headed
off and their originators furnished
with the material for doing really
helpful work.
Il have been asked" says the state
ment. "iust how the creation of bet
ter facilities for the handling OF m
yentions or suggestions received VIII
actually increase the number OF Such
useful ideas for the navy. W nile IL
is. perhaUs, going a little ahead OF the
programme, | think enough Of the
plans which are being worked mo
shape may be given 70 answer that
question.
improvements in our ships, par
ticularly devices to increase either
their offensive powers or 70 Strength
en- their defensive resources, are eA-
tremely technical and are not easily
compreheuded except by those with q
thorough knowledge of naval archl-
lecture and what is now in existence.
In fact. some Of the most crying naval
needs in this country and abroad are
probably absolutely Unknown 10 al
bur a very few people VINO have MADE
specially Of studying the subject
Inventive Genius Misdirected.
"Tn other words, the inventive genius
Of the country, so far as the navy Is
concerned. has been largely mlsdlrecteG
through a lack of urders tanCinS, and
I think il is obvious that If we could
instruct the inventors and thus concen-
-rate the inventive thought on the
tbinus most useful we would speedily
get many suggestions along practica.
lines that would be worthy OF adop-
tion.
PAMPHLETS will be sent 70 such in
yentors as are interested In the sub
iect and who desire 10 work On the
problem. They will thus have, so far
as IL is possible 10 give them, the ad-
vantages OF the wonderful technical
knowledge which our own experts pos
sess or the subject | feel sure that
this will give much higher percent
age Of useful suggestions than we now
receive.
The entire method is, of course, an
slogous 10 that adopted when we wish
apparatus built by outside arms 20 be
installed on our ships. Here the manu-
facturcrs are in the same position as
the inventors are to-day, being without
a technical knowledge Of just what the
machine should be, the space II should
occupy and the conditions under which
il would work. as, for instance, IN the
case of an air compressor.
Naval Secrets To BE Preserved.
"Of course. there Will be certain
number Of inventions needed OF more
would not be good military Tolicy to
proclaim broadcast. These would be
referred directly by the department 20
our advisory board, thus getting their
invaluable assistance in solving prob
lens which up to this time remain I'M
solved.
This mornings mail has brought a
number Of letters addressed in care Of
the department to men whose names
have been mentioned in the press as
being probable appointees to this new
board I wish the press would gen
orally make known that any communi-
cation on this subject for the present
should be addressed either to the Sec
rotary Of the Navy or the Navy De-
partment."
Bids for sixteen new submarines au
thorized by the last Congress will not
be opened until September 20, Secre-
tary Daniels announced, in order that
two shipbuilding companies which have
obtained patent rights TO build boats
of a successful type now used by two
or more of the European bclligerents
may have a chance to compete.
Mr.. Daniels acted. it is understood,
upon the strong recommendation Of
his advisory council. which discussed
The matter yesterday II was urged
that not only was il desirable that the