The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1917-05-10
EDISON BUSY ON
U-BOAT PROBLEM.
DANIELS BELIEVES AMERICAN IN
GENUITY WILL FIND WAY TO
COMBAT MENACE.

ing progress made toward finding a
solution of the submarine menace.
referred to in New York yesterday
by Chairman w L Saunders, of the
board, had not reached the navy de-
partment tonight, but were expect
ed tomorrow. Secretary Daniels
said that while no information would
be made public as to the nature of
experiments which had been in pro-
gress, he was satisfied that Ameri.
can ingenuity eventually would
check the undersea boats.
Mr. Daniels spoke, however, with.
out knowledge of the specific devices
with which the members of the con-
sulting board have been experiment.
ing and his confidence was based
solely upon the record for mechan-
| ical inventiveness which American
engineers and scientists have main
! tained for years.
Mr. Lawrence Addicks. chairman
of the special problems committee,
/ has given out the following state
ment:
While it is evident that specific
information as to progress made
would be contrary to public policy
at this time, a. chairman of the COM
mittee of the board dealing specifi.
cally with the marine menace, | feel
justified in saying that we have now
under practical trial some naval de-
vices of great promise.
This committee was formed at
the time of the break with Germany
to take over all problems relating to
the destruction of submarines and
the defeat of the torpedo and has
under it's direction the various ex-
perirnental stations devoted to this
work.
In addition to this Mr. Edison is
separately conducting Line of ex-
periments in his own laboratory. re-
garding the results Of which | am
not qualified to speak"
Mr. Addicks' statement confirms
the understanding officials of the
department have had of the progress
being made by the inventors. They
have been at work for months on
various research studies and since
the declaration of a state Of war
with Germany have redoubled their
efforts to find a wav to cope with
the U-boat menace.
In many instances naval experts
have been called into consultation
by the board members or have aided
in direct experiments. Every pre-
caution has keen taken by the de-
partment, however, to prevent any
knowledge of the nature of the ex-
periments from becoming public.
That policy will be pursued to pre-
vent Germany from preparing
against any new weapons in advance.
Il have great faith that American
ingenuity will find means of COM
batting the submarines" said Secre.
tary Daniels tonight, although |
have in mind no special device
among the hundreds which have
been proposed to US to night the
menace. truly believe something
will be developed that will be effec-
tive against the underwater boats.
Experts of the Naval Consulting
board and of the navy department
are working hard experimenting
with the devices which may 90 a
long way toward giving US victory.
Some probably have merit. the 9TH
ers not. but all are given fair tests.
The precise nature of any cannot be
disclosed, of course"
The department itself has done a
great deal of experimental work
both with devices for the destruc-
ton or detection of submarines and
also with interior defense for war
ships against torpedoes and mines.