Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-16
Wireless Inventor Finds KnoWl.
edge Used and Not Discoy-
cries Made in Warfare

ROME, July 20.--No notable scien-,
tific discoveries or inventions are
growing out of the great war, in the
opinion of William Marconi, the wire
less inventor. In an interview with
correspondent of The Associated
Press he said:
"As for war inventions, on the
whole there have been no great ones
that occur to me. Most of them have
been minor ones, or applications Of
knowledge previously at our disposal,
as in the case of poison gases, if these
may be named at all. In my own field
there has been some advance in prac-
teal wireless by which we are now
able to direct the artillery fire of a
ship by signals from an aeroplane,
which has been made possible largely
through the big improvements in air
craft.
THE big lesson in Europe has been
one of organization, Of the physical
handling Of big material problems by
the armies. ] doubt if any one before
this war ever realized the meaning
and value Of railroad transportation
I a
| the United States. Europe, too, has
| learned how to do big industrial jobs
overnight, to assemble raw materials
and turn ont needed factory pro-
ducts.
'T refuse to play the prophet role,
| so / would rather not say how many
of these war products will be of use
| to us when peace comes
Since the beginning of the war Mr.
Marconf has had unusual opportunf
ties for observing the practical side
of the war, having early put his scien
! tific knowledge at the service OF his
country As a senator of the king
dom he has visited England, Belgium
! France, and other countries, and in
! troduced Industrial and shipping re
forms. in his capacity as military
/ officer he has come into close, rela
ton with army and navy and given
the benefit of his science and business
/ organization knowledge to muniuor
factories. He has also perfected the
army and navy wireless systems and
| is at present working on signal sys
/ TEN, which, 1t is expected, will rem
( ueF lar more u1lllCuAI aup44olAlAO "oSl
/ fare through the reader location ant
signalling OF the presence of such
| craft. The details of this he was un
j able to furnish because of its imme
date military importance.
Let me say" said MIR. Marconi
that one of the personal inconveni
enees Of this war is that cannot con
| tinue my visits to the United States
| began my visits in 1899, when YOU
people so warmly welcomed and help
ed me. Since then have been there
exactly forty times, which is perhap;
record"
4 Incidentally sthe inventor referred
to the position of the United States
81 don't think the United States
should ever fear any fatal, disastrou:
i invasion" he said. Her seas protec
her too we'll She is too mighty
country in population and force to bC
ever conquered. l doubt if, with rea
| sonable precaution, even her coast:
could be injured or landed upon. The
experience of this war has shown how
easy it is to protect a coast by sub
marines, even when the invader is ;
near neighbor. 1t is rule that viii
work both ways The United States
would have vast difficulties in land
ing forces on foreign territory. Sd.
that of Europe. Neither England no
Germany have been able to get a