The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-02-12
SUB-BOAT ANTIDOTE
PROF. JONES, OF MITCHELL
THINKS MENACE is
SOLVED.

Sioux City, Feb. 12.-It is abso-
lutely certain a device has been per-
fected that will make American
transports immune to German SUBJ
marine attack and the menac will
no longer exist after ships have been
equipped with the invention, accord
ing to Prof. Hilton Ira Jones. OF
Mitchell, s. D., who fills the chair of
chemistry at Dakota Wesleyan uni
versity. Prof. Jones was at the Mar
tin hotel.
Prof. Jones, who is familiar with
the construction method reported by
the naval consulting board in the
Sunday morning press dispatches
from New York, was engaged for a
considerable time in conjunction
with Thomas A. Edison in devising
methods of repulsing U-boat attacks.
we worked out a successful
method of avoiding the effect of tor
pedo explosion said Prof. Jones,
but we found that the construction
proposed hindered the passage of the
vessel to a large extent. and it was
not used by the government.
Reconstruction Method Best.
America invented the submarine,
and we have invented the antidote
for 1t. The method adopted by the
naval consulting board is the best
that can be devised and will absolute
ly solve the submarine menace, which
already Is dying. The method pro-
posed involves the internal recon
~struction of a ship, or the placing of
the cellular protection on the outside
of the transport. The better way is
to reconstruct the ship.
THE principle employed in this
safety device is that of an air cell
structure" continued Prof. Jones.
The thickness of the structure is
such that 1t cannot be penetrated by
torpedo explosion. III the outer layer
is broken there are four or five more
underneath. Air makes the best
cushion there is. A torpedo never
can break through all OF these layers
unless the same point OF contact
should be hit by several different tor
pedoes. and that is practically impos-
sible. III one or two of the cellular
layers should be penetrated there are
three or four mor to break before
the ship could be sunk.
Makes Ships Invulnerable.
The lesson taught by the sinking
OF the Tuscania will not have been In
vain. This transport was not pro-
tected with the new construction or
1t would not have been sunk. But
the government is now and has been
rushing the protection of it's ships.
The first purpose is to make the
transports invulnerable and the Sec
ond Is to destroy the submarine cam
paign and make the war zone prac-
tically free and safe for ships. That
will be done. Won Hertling, the Ger
man chancellor, is reported as having
said recently that Germany cannot
hope for success through the subma-
rine campaign.
II have made an engagement for a
year Of lecturing, beginning June l,
1918, with the Redpath-Vawter Ly.
ceum bureau. I am going to the
platform at the direction of the ma.
tional council Of publicity of the
American Chemical society. The
purpose is to stimulate widespread
interest in practical science. The
topic Of my lecture will be The State
Of Science, Or a Study in Vibration.
I will carry demonstration equipment
with me-"
Prof. Jones had supervision of the
northwest section Of the industrial
survey Of the nation made by the
government early in 1916, which re-
suited in the listing of all plants that
could possibly be of service to the
government in time Of war and the
registration of all scientists whose
services would be useful. Prof. Jones
has been offered several research po-
sitions under the government at
Washington.