The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-18
NATIONS DRIGHIEsI
men PLAN ITS DEFENSE
Thosnas A. Edison Heads Board Of
Inyentors, which WIN Cooperate
with Government.
MprHoDs REvoLUTIoNIzED
Grea& Eurupean Struggle WI Make
warfare More Than Ever Contest
OF Scientists.

washington, D. c., July i7.--Secre-
tary Daniels stated in q recent inter-
view that lessons taught by the Eu-
ropean war should undoubtedly re-
suit in changes In naval architecture
and equipment, just as radical as
those that followed the Introduction
OF the monitor type Of vessel In naval
warfare at the time Of the conflict
between the States.
The appearance Of the monitor In
the American navy revclutionised ma
val construction and equipment. ana
II 10 the opinion OF Mr. Daniels that 1t
the end of the pending war the Amer
lean navy must be rebuilt along new
lines.
That was the thought In Mr.. Daniels
mind when he invited Thomas A..
Edison to head an advisory board OF
inventors to assist government experts
In developing the navy in accordance
with needs disclosed by the present
war. The secretary of the navy would
organize the best inventive genius OF
the country and set ii to work against
the time when the rebuilding along
other lines will be necessary
Directed BY Best Genius Obfainnbic.
II Secretary Daniels plans are car
ried out. all the present agencies OF
me department that have to do with
the testing of material and expert
ments with inventions will be consoi-
dated under one head and directed by
Mr. Edison and others associated with
him in conjunction with American
naval officers. At present the de-
partment maintains an experiment
station at Annapolis that tests fuels.
1t operates another station at the
Washington navy yard. which expert
ments with devices used on air crafts
and submarines Ordinance officers
of the department are constantly en-
gagged In experiments TO improve guns
and ammunition. Secretary DAnielsI
contemplate eniarging all these acS
tivities and merging them into one
great laboratory in which Mr.. Edison |
and other inventors Of note may at
times work with naval officers cni
devices designed to bring the Ameri- |
can navy up TO the highest degree OF
efficiency as q fighting machine.
The personnel Of this board will be J
distinguished. Among those mention !
ed for membership are Alexander
Graham Bell. orv.ile Wright. Pro- |
lessor r. A. Fessender. John Hays
Hammond Jr.. Hudson Maxim ana
Henry Ford.
II is understood to be settled that
Mr.. Wright will be invited to be-
come a member, OF the board I'M
making his selections. Secretary DAN
iels will choose men who are recog-
nixed az leaders in their particular
fields of endeavor, and no dorot IA
expressed that all those who are In
vited TO give their services TO the
navy will follow the lead OF Mr.. Edi<l
son by accepting.
IL is Secretary Daniels purpose TO
estab lish the board without delay.
He believes no time should be lost
in studying the lessons taught by the
war and adopting to the uses OF the
American navy such devices. methods
and practices as have been used with
success abroad. He L. of the opinion.
also, that The establishment OF the
board will quicken tine interest OF the
inventive genius of the country.
Question was raised today as to-
whether Secretary Daniels had author
ity to create such board AZ he con-
templates. His attention vas direct
ed to statute which prohibits the
acceptance by any government officer
or department OF voluntary scrvfc9.
1t was suggested that the payment OF
nominal compensation to members OF
the board would meet any charge that
might be made In Congress that this
prohibitory statute had been violated
or evaded.
Secretary Daniels explained at length
his purpose in establishing an ad-l
visory board in a statement - fol-
lows:
II am very much gratified by the
acceptance OF Thomas A. Edison Of
the position OF head OF an advisory
committee composed OF men who have