The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-09-14
Geniuses of Country,
MoboIized on Hurry Call,
Were Locked Up in Hotel for
Many Days Till Great Prob
lem Was Solved and Ideal
Model Produced.

Washington, Sept. 12.-The Liberty
motor, the airplane engine upon which
the United States is relying to estab-
lish definite air supremacy over the
Germans over the battleships of
France, has passed its final test and
is a complete and gratifying success,
Secretary Baker announced today.
Secretary Bakers statement in part
follows:
''The United States aviation engine
has passed final tests. They were sue
cessful and gratifying. The new mo-
tor, designed by the signal service as
the Liberty MOTOR is now the main
reliance of the United States in the
rapid production in numbers of high
power motors for the prosecution of
the war.
''In reliability, speed, carrying pow
er and destructive ability it invites
comparison with the best that the Eu-
ropean war has produced.
Big Accomplishment.
II regard the invention and rapid
development of this engine as really
one of the big accomplishments of the
war. The engine was brought about
through the cooperation of more than
score of engineers, who pooled their
skill and trade secrets in the war
emergency, working with the encour-
agement of the aircraft production
board, the war department and the
bureau of standards.
"The story of the production of this
engine is remarkable one. Prob
ably the war has produced no greater
single achievement. -a
zone of the first problems which
confronted the war department and
the aircraft production board after the
declaration of hostilities was to pro-
duce quickly a dependable aviation
motor. Two courses were open. One
was to encourage manufacturers to
develop their own types; the other to
bring the best of all types together
and develop standard.
"The necessity for speed and quan-
tity production resulted in a choice of
the latter course and a standard mo-
tor became our engineering objective.
Locked Up With Problem.
1.-TWO of the best engineers in the
country, who had never before seen
an airplane motor, were brought to-
gether at Washington and the prob
lem of producing an all-American en-
glne at the earliest possible momehs
was presented to them.
"These two engineers were fgura-
lively locked in room in a Washing
ton hotel and charged with the de-
ve.opment of an airplane motor for
use by American aviators over the
battletields of Europe.
For five days neither man left the
suite of rooms engaged for them.
Consulting engineers and craftsmen
from various sections of the country
were brought to Washington to as
slst them. The work in the draft
ing room proceeded continuously day
and night.
An inspiring feature of the work
was the aid rendered by consulting
engineers and motor manufacturers,
who gave up their trade secrets under
the emergency of war needs. The
industries have also contributed the
services of approximately 200 of their
best craftsmen.
"The two engineers promised the
government, if given an opportunity,
they would design a satisfactory en-
gine before working model could
be brought from Europe.
"A remarkable American engine
was actually produced three weeks
before any model could have been
brought from Europe. 1t was prom
lsed that this engine would be devel-
oped before the Fourth of July. Twen-
ty-eight days after the drawings were
started, the new engine was set ap.
This was on July 3.
Closely Guarded.
I'm order to have the new engine in
Washington and in actual running or
der at the nations capital on indie
pendence Day, the perfected engine
was sent from Western city in a
special express car. The journey was
made in Fl hours and four young men
guarded the engine en- route to Wash
ington and personally attended to its
transfer from one railroad to another.
Parts of the first engine were
turned out at IL different factories. To-
Gated all the way from Connecticut to
California. When the parts were as
sembled the adjustment was perfect
and the performance of the engine
was wonderfully gratifying.
"One of the chief rules outlined at
the beginning of the designing work
was that no engineer should be per-
mitted to introduce construction which
had not been tried out. The new on
CINE is successful because it embodies
the best thought of engineering ex-