The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-07
Impressions That Device Has
Been Evolved to Wipe Out
Menace Counteracted
DANIELS OPTIMISTIC
In SPITE OF DENIALS
No Further Information VIII
Be Given Out as to Whether
Naval Scientists Are Sue
cessful

New York. May 6.-Three members
OF the naval consulting board issued
statements today to counteract i'm
pressions that device, after lengthy
experiments, had been evolved TO wipe
out the u-boat menace
The statements were given by
Thomas y. Edison. president of thu
board; William l.. Saunders, chair
man OF the board. who on Saturday
made public an opinion that such an
instrument had been invented and
Lawrence Addicks. head OF the COM
mittee of special problems of the
board
Although formally disprovirg the
actual recognition OF an invention
that would rid the seas of the dread
enemy submarines. Chairman Saun-
ders and Addicks in their statements
declare that wholly practical devices
are being tested with excellent prog
poets, Mr.. Edison. who has locked
himself in his private laboratory and
IS working eighteen hours day on
the problem, world say nothing of
any device or It's existence so far
as he is concerned.
The columns devoted to speculation
OF Instruments held in mind by Chair
man Saunders were worth but q
paragraph. he said today Many OF
the newspapers exaggerated my an
nouncement,' he. declared He re-
ported that many devices to defeat
the submarine peril have been sub
mitfed TO the board These instfu.
nents are being tested now along the
coast, Certain Of them already have
been found OF practical use and "be-
lieved to solve the question:" but Mr..
Saunders explained that he had -pt
one of these instruments in mind
when he made Saturdays confusing
announcement. He continued: Out
Of the numerous inventions submitted,
certain practical ones which, in ray
belief, offer encouragement that the
submarine problem will be solved
Clesed TO All Interviewers.
For many weeks Mr.. Edison hal
CLOSED himself to. all tntersiewsrs n .44e
has virtually locked himself in his
la boratory where, over testing tubes,
lathes and other experimental ma
I chinery and paraphernalia. he has
studied a problem of which he has
steadfastly refused to speak. 1t Is
known to he in connection with the
submarine question. with a view to
Kidding the seas. If possible. OF the
underwater craft. To-day though. he
called in his son Charles and rave
public:
THE statement that the submarine
question has been solved WAS news
to Mr.. Edispn.-Ht- act n 4t+s.r-t rat
any such statement was to he issued
nor does he know how tho question
was to be settled, as there has not
been meeting of the board"
From this it is evident Mr.. Edison
I is working independently on a device
! intended TO combat the sub-sea
menace. It was recalled yesterday
, that on occasion when Mr.. Edison
has denied himself practically to the
! outer world such as lately that he has
brought forth an astounding inven-
( ton,
I Mr.. Addicks. who has charge of ey-
! periments with underwater devices to
I detect submarine enemies. gave out
/ this statement;
! II fear some of the statements In
1 the morning papers regarding tho
! naval consulting board may unwitting-
. ly give the wrong impression regard
ing progress made in combating the
/ submarine menace, and conclusions
| are likely to he drawn that the pro-
| gram has been fully solved or given
up az hopeless.
while 1t is evident that specific
! Information as to progress made
would be contrary to public policy
at this time. as chairman of the cons
mittee of the board dealing specificai-
ly with the submarine menace. l feel
justified In saying that good and
satisfactory progress has been made.
and that we have now under practical
trial some novel devices of great
promise"