New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
Conflicts Contributions to
Science Disappointing,
Says Marconi.
DECLARES u. S. SAFE
FROM ANY INVASION
Submarines Can Protect
Coast Effectively, Wire
less Inventor Thinks.


discoveries or inventions are growing
out of the great war, in the opinion OF
William Marconi, the wireless inventor
"On the whole, there have been no
great war inventions that occur to me"
he said. "Most Of them have been
minor ones, or applications of knowl-
edge 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 practical
wireless, by which we are now able to
direct the artillery fire of ship by
signals from an aeroplane. This has
been made possible largely through big
improvements in aircraft.
1.-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 on a
large scale, as 1t is practised In the
United States. Europe, too, has learned
how to do big industrial jobs overnight,
to assemble raw materials and turn out
needed factory products.
III refuse TO play the prophet role, so
I would rather not say how many OF
these war products will be OF use TO US
when peace comes"
Has introduced Reforms.
Since the beginning of the war Mr..
Marconi has had unusual opportunities
for observing the practical side of the
war, having early put his scientlhe
knowledge at the service of his coun-
try. As a Senator of the kingdom he
has visited England, Belgium, France
and other countries and introduced in
dustrial and shipping reforms. In his
capacity as military officer he has come
into close relation with the army and
the navy and given the benefit OF his
science and business organization
knowledge to munition factories. j.,
He has also perfected the army and
navy wireless systems, and is at pres
, ent working on a signal system which,
it is expected, will render far more
difficult submarine warfare through the
reader location and signalling of the
presence of such craft. The details
Of this he was unable to furnish be-
cause Of its immediate military I'M
portance. Incidentally the inventor re.
ferred to the position Of the United
States.
II don't think the United States
should ever fear any fatal, disastrous
INVASION" he said. "Her seas protect
her too well. She is too mighty
country in population and force ever
to be conquered. | doubt II, with
/ l.
could be injured or landed upon. The
experience of this war has shown now
, easy it is to protect a coast by sub
marines. even when the invader is a
near neighbor. 1t is a rule that will
work both ways. The United States
would have vast difficulties in landing
forces on foreign territory, say that OF
Europe. Neither England nor Germany
has been able to get at each other,
though relatively close"
Expects Another War Soon.
As to the prospects Of peace in
Europe. Mr.. Marconi said there are
many people here who believe the war
that is, actual hostilities-will be
over by winter. =,
"To me-" he said, "the saddest fact
about this war is that so much energy
has been used up which might have
gone to a better purpose. | fear, too,
as must every thinking man in Europe,
that this may not be Europe's last great
war during this half century. IL may
have to be fought all over again within
another thirty years unless there is
some way found of preventing future
wars, of settling disputed interests
otherwise"
Concluding, the inventor pointed out
| that this is the first great war in which
women have been so generally spared.
an early times" he continued, eve
( had sometimes entire countries where
men. women and children were de-
stroyed by famines and epidemics in
war times. In our own days the prog
ress Of science, of hygiene, has in
creased population and made impos-
sble these old methods of destruction.
War still remains, as the present con-
/ fict proves, and as a more terrible
means of destruction than in the past
with the striking difference, however,
that it destroys men and not the
women"