Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-14
EDISON WILL Aid In
BUILDING UP NAVY
Great Inventor Accepts Invitation
of Daniels to Head Advisory
Board.
SUBMARINE Is GREAT PROBLEM


WEST ORANGE. N. j., July H.
Thomas Edison has accepted an invi-
tation from Secretary Daniels 10 head
an advisory board Of civilian invent
ors for bureau Of invention and de-
veiopment TO be created in the Navy
department. His acceptance will go
forward at once to Washington,
where the new plans await word from
the man "who can turn dreams into
realities"
Mr.. Daniels idea OF utilizing the
inventive genius OF America for the
military and naval service, TO meet
conditions Of warfare shown in the
conflict on land and sea in Europe,
lie outlined in a letter written last
wednesday asking Mr. Edison
whether, as a patriotic service to his
country, he would undertake the task
OF advising the proposed bureau. The
plan IL TO have several men prom
inent in special lines OF inventive re-
search associated In the work.
Among the great problems to be
laid before the investigators the sec
Rotary mentioned submarine warfare,
adding that he felt sure that with
Mr.. EdIaon's wonderful brain 20 help
them the officers Of the navy would
be able TO meet this new danger
with new devices that will assure
peace 70 our country by their effec-
tfveness"
should ne Done Now.
In announcing tonight that he would
gladly accept Secretary Daniels invita-
ton. Mr.. Edison aaid he believed the
proposals 20 important that Il should be
attended 10 now. az time when the
war IN Europe IL bringing before the
public the Importance of encouraging
the development Of ideas and inventions
o. Ansricans, especially officers ana
men Of tire army and navy.
The United states ~ far behind In
these matters" said MI Edison. II be-
Iitve is highly important for board
Of civilians. made up OF engineers from
Leading industries. to be formed for the
purpose OF looking into the feasibility Of
idsaa developed by young men. While
at ideas that viii be submitted may not
he feasible. At least they viii have the
benefit Of expert Judgment and advice.
I'm addition to the advisory board OF
onsineers I would also suggest de-
parfmant OF representation. where ideas
rniehs be tried cat. The cost would be
nominal Only a few acres OF land would
be required with proper buildings and a
ecrpa Of efficient men calculated to carry
out experiments under direction Of those
suggesting them after they have been
approved
Hinged ON Edfson's Reply.
WASHINGTON. July l3-Develop-
msnts Of Secretary Daniels' idea OF
strsnsthening the national defense by
oontrallnlnE the inventive genius OF the
country 70 assist IN perfecting the navy
AZ a fighting machine has hinged almost
wholly upon Mr.. Edison's reply to tho
request that he head the civilian adj
visory beard 10 the proposed new bu-
reau Of invention and development No
word from Mr.. Edison had been received
tonight ana the secretary said until the
reply came he would have no announce
meat 20 make. although he was greatly
pleased when told Mr.. Edison had ae-
cepted
Naval officers generally were enthu-
siastlc At the proposed innovation and
predicted that once the new bureau was
in existahce great improvements in the
navys construction and orsanizatloh
would follow.
one Of the first problems for the new
bureau viii Be thai OF improving the
navys submarines and aeroplanes. An
imperative need o. development IN these
Il branches OF the service n recognised
for although American genius was the
first 70 conceive them as realities, their
development by the American navy has
been slow. There Is At present no Amer
ican-made engine satisfactory for aero
plane zee, nor have submarine engines
or batteries been perfected TO the sat-
isfaction OF naval officers Mr.. Edison
= the Inventor OF new batteries being
placed on the latest submarine GRAFT.
from which great things are expected.