Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-16
RED TAPE OF NAVY DEPARTMENT
HAS HERETOFORE ACTED
AGAINST DEVELOPMENT.
SECRETARY DANIELS
PLAN FULL OF PROMISE
American Inventors Have Shown che
World Way to Improved War impls-
n,snts, But United States Has Been
Last to Recognize Work Of Geniuses
INCREASED Navy Is Demanded.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, July 16.-Now that
Secretary of the Navy Daniels has de-
cided to create board of civilian in
ventive geniuses of the Edison type TO
advise with the navy department AID
submit ideas to it for the improvement
of the navy and the development of the
lighting efficiency Of the navy, the
question that presents itself is whether
the department is going to utilize to
advantage the ideas which it will get.
In the minds of some Of the most
progressive naval experts here there
is no doubt that Edison and men OF
that kind-possibly Orville Wright
Henry Ford Telsa and the like-can
furnish the navy department ideas on
constructing new and more powerful
enginery OF war. whether it be aero.
planes, submarines or battleships. But
Will the navy department make use of
what such geniuses work out? VIII
congress appropriate freely to allow
the conceptions of the brains OF men
like Edison to be wrought into i'm
proved naval craft, naval ordnance and
the Ike
VIII the red tape of the navy depart
ment and the bureaucracy that has
long reigned there give way even TO
the designs of the inventive reninses?
These are phases of the situation
with respect to the development OF the
navy along the most modern lines
which are being discussed by upto-
date naval experts and all who want
to see the navy Of the United States
81, =, ~
the world and kept abreast of them.
Demand For Increased Navy.
Undoubtedly, there will also be dis
cussion along similar lines in congress
next winter for there is no manner of
doubt, regardless Of what happens as
to army legislation, that the demand
in congress for greater naval develop
ment Is going to be strong. probably ir-
resistible. House and senate naval
committees are likely 10 make many
inquiries Of the navy department about
the new board of civilian inventive
seniuses and engineers. what the pur-
pose is of the creation OF the board.
how the boards recommendations are
going to be utilized. and SO on.
The navy department has never been
lacking. as a matter OF fact, in respect
of the submission to 1t of ideas by men
of brains. But the men who have dc
tated the policy OF construction have
been ra-conservative about taking
up such ideas.
Slow to improve Opportunities.
Plenty OF illustrations can be given
of this The plainest case is that OF
the submarine 1t is well known this
is primarily an American invention. 1t
is equally. we'll known that the navy
department greatly neglected the sub
marine until it was shocked into ac-
ton by the marvellous use of the sub
marines made by Germany and other
nations in the present war.
The same thing is true Of the aero
plane. Years ago, Orville Wright. by
his inventive genius, along with that
Of his brother, pointed the way to
aerial development, both for navy and
army And both navy and army failed
to bestir themselves with real serious
purpose as to the aeroplane until late
~. when the European war has seemed
to make it imperative to do so.
The story of how other nations have
developed the swift battle cruiser and
how the American navy has shut Its
eyes to it is like exposition OF the
failure Of the men responsible for
American naval policy to progress.
Much Depends on Daniels.
Other instances might be cited Ideas
which were coldly turned down by the
American navy-not by its wide-awake,
progressive officers-but by the powers
that have dominated the navy depart
ment, have in some cases been trans
ported to Europe, eagerly seized. and
profitably employed.
Edison and the men who are chosen
to work in the same field for the adj
vancement Of the navy will beyond
peradventure give 1t ideas. The real
problem before the navy, however, will
| not be changed. This as indicated al
ready, is to convert to good use the
ideas it gets. Much will depend on
Secretary Daniels and succeeding heads
Of the navy department in this respect.