New-York tribune., 1916-02-29
Members. of Congress
ChOrtIe and DeIve Into
Book by Wilson Adviser.
SEEK COLONEL'S
MILITARY VIEWS
Find Something New in Spinning
Turrets - President Wilson
Overlooked by Author.

ashlngton, Feb. 2S.--Washington
to-day is convinced that Colonel Ed
ward " House, President Wilson's con-
fdential adviser, has been unmasked at
last through the disclosure that he is
the author of novel written in 1912.
entitled philip Dru, Administrator"
1t became known to-day that the
Texan presented an autographed copy
OF this work to Senator Culberson, of
Texas. When search was made for il
! at Senator Culberson's Office it was dis
covered that the volume had been bor-
rowed by some one. At the Senators 8
Office it was stated that the secret of
authorship probably was disclosed by
the person who took this volume.
In his novel Colonel House portrays
the hero, Philip Dru, at the work OF
entirely reconstructing the American
system OF government. Philip Dru
feels sorry for the wrongs the people
Lave suffered at the hands Of the in
terests. He starts out TO right them.
But he docs not take the people into
! ils confidence during tho rghting.
Rather he works out theories for the
Immediately creates government ma
ohinery TO put those theorieg into prac-
ticc. Dru feels that the British system
of government is much better than the
American, and whereve- possible he
adopts English methods.
Members of Congress Get Busy.
Members of Congress chortled with
Gee to-day phen they heard OF the op-
portunity presented 10 hem TO look
into the mind of Colonc House. With
tno preparedness programme now be
fore Congress, members Of tho House
end Senate were eager 70 get the colo
nel's views on the development of the
army and the navy.
They turned to the novel which IS
attributed to his zen and found that
the hero. Philip Dru. had some
thoughts which until to-day never en-
tered the minds Of either military or
naval experts Of the government.
When confronted with a great inter
national crisis, Dru suddenly came 10
the realization that the United States
navy was not equal to the task It might
be called upon 70 perform In case OF
war. SO he set his mind 10 the work
Of evolving a navy equal 10 all tasks.
Co.ouo, House relates that after Some
study he invented a battleship whlcn
A -. katt Ia.
ship in existence"
Here is Colonel Houses description
of the vessel:
Running back from the bow for a
distance OF 90 feet only about four feet
Of the hull showed above the water
line and this part of the deck was con-
cayed and of the smoothest, hardest
steel. Then came several turreted sec
tions upon which guns were mounted.
Spinning Turrets.
around these turrets ran rims o.
polished steel. two feet in width and
six inches thick. These rims began
four feet from the water line and -an
four feet above the level of the turret
decks. The rims were so nicely ad-
justed with ball-bearings that the
smallest blow would send them spin
ming around; therefore a she'll could
not penetrate because it would glance
off"
After reading this section several
naval experts declared that no one as
yet has appeared before the Naval
Affairs Committee TO advocate a spin
ming battleship. One or two suggested
that Colonel House might be invited 10
appear when he returns TO the United
states from his present mission 10
Europe and develop his theory lit,le
further.
Readers of Colonel Houses novel
searched it for some reference 10 Presi-
dent Wilson. They searched in vain.
The colonel was SO busy portraying the
workings of his hero that he forgot 10
say much about the man he is gen
orally credited with making President.