Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-19
THINKS SCIENCE HAS DONE
ITS SHARE IN GREAT WAR
VI. Painleve. Frenclman, Declares
Edison Rather Severe In Judg-
mcnt Concerning Progress.
HELD AS MILITARY SECRETS
When Details OF New Inventions and
Developments Of Old Ones Are Re-
vealcd, Some Remarkable ACCOM-
pliSIImcntS Will BE Made Public,
InN Assncintcd press1

BY Associated Pressl
PAEIS. February lS.-Paul painlevc.
member of the French Institute, en-
incnt in mathematics deputy for the
Latin quarter. and until recently Min
lister OF Public Instruction and Invcn-
lions. declares that Thomas Edison
was rather severe in his Judgment
when he expressed in 4 recent inter-
view his surprise that science had
played SO small part in the war"
"'rhc most important scientific appli-
cations made since the war began arc
still military secrets" said NJ. Balm
lcNc to tho Associated Press when
ii is all over and details OF new invcn-
tons and new developments Of old
ones. discovered and put into practice.
used at the front. may be revealed
think MIR. Edison will revise his opin-
ion. and that the world generally will
admit that science has done it's part
ITO mention only isolated cases, the
processes Of wireless communica ton
aud for tho registering of sounds at
distanccs-that is, by the ordinary
wireless currents and by ground in
DccU WITNelOuSlN per-
fected through the requirements Of the
war All the armies are rivaling each
other In skillful methods for tapping
tho cncmy's lines of telephone COM
municaiion from n considerable dis
lance: not tapping 1t is generally
understood. but by the use Of a mar
.'"ious instrument that enables the
sentinel in his advanced listening post
~, la,>
to hear tho enemy communicate ons by
telephone going over wires that are
several hundred yards away"
IN POSITION TO KNOW
WHAT SCIENCE HAS DONE
mo more than an allusion to these
things may be made" said NJ. Painlcvc.
who. az Minister of Munitions, organ
lied "a vcritahlc mobilization OF sci
cntis,s aud scientific laboratories in
France The technical sections OF his
ministry collahorated with inventors to
bring to practical use the interesting
propositions tina; were found worth
considering. He himself presided over
a special commission Of men of science,
charged with the examination OF all
new inventions and processes proposed
for use in tho national defense and
must. consequently. he regarded as in
better position than any other man
in France TO know what science has
done for the war.
II would mention also" he said ~
system that we perfected and nut into
use for locating tho cncmy's batteries
by sound. The principle was known
before tho war. hut il was regarded as
inpracticahlc. 1t has. since the war.
been brought TO tho highest state OF
perfection and efficiency. and for
months has been in use over the en-
tire front. 1t has proven so effective
that our advcrsarics. who captured 4
motor car with ono OF tho outfits have
equipped themselves with similar an
planes. but lacking tho dclicacy and
the precision Of our Instruments. II
was France that had tho entire ini:ia-
tive of this brilliant application.
Inventions for following the cncmy's
sappinC and mining operations by
sound that were. In all armies. very
crude and insufficient before the war
have made the most remarkable prog
ross. and will reflect honor upon
French science later on
Aviation In every respect has been
remarkably perfected by tho efforts OF
'''''''''~ ''N ''''ii'''h'lS Since inc war
began. To-day pilot goes up in all
kinds Of weather without fear Of he
ing upset by sudden squalls. so we'll
have been perfected tho measures for
tho stability Of flying machines Great
progress also has been made in the inn
provcment of motors particularly in
the reduction of their weight In pro-
portion to their effective power, so that
they speed UP TO $50 miles an hour
Finally. in spite OF the difficulties
wireless biography has been mar
VclouSlN ada ptcl to aVlatinnn