Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-07-13
By FRANK P. sTOCKBRIDGE.

II - naroly gong loo Tar 10 say tnat ths
nost important collection OF scientifically
kttained minds ever assembled in one place
ssand set to work upon single group Of re
lated problems. was the organization o.
scientists, inventors and technical engi
neers gathered at the Navy Department ir
Washington known as the Naval Con
sulting Board. headed by the most famous
inventor in the world, Thomas A. Edison
Very few people in the Navy Department
and still fewer outside OF the Navy De.
partment. realize that for practically thf
entire period OF Americas participation
In the war Mr.. Edison made his personal
headquarters in a room in the Savy De
partment, close to that OF the Scretary oi
the Navy.
He spent almost all OF his time. day and
night az is his custom. working upon scien'
tific and technical problems which were
under consideration by the Naval Con
sulting Board: to his genius not only
as an individual scientist and inventor
but as a guide and inspiration to others
we're due many OF the devices and methods
adopted by our navy both fer offensive
and defensive purposes which proved
OF immeasurable value in the destruction OF
German submarines and in keeping The
German fleet bottled up at Wilheimshavan
and Heligoland.
Before the armistice was signed the
quarters OF the Naval Consulting Board
and its staff OF technicians had expanded
until they occupied almost one entire
wing OF the gigantic new Navy Building
in Washington, that wonderful; piece OF
.o,id concrete construction containing for
ty-three acres Of floor space. which was
bpilt, figuratively speaking. almost over
ulkht, by the Navy Bureau OF YARDS ana
Docks Many OF the scientific discoveries
ana inventions which had their practical
application developed by the Naval Con
sulting Board. are still secrets and vii
continue to be secrets. revealed only to
the officers and men charged with respon-
sibility for their operation.
our army is being demobiized: its mill
tary activities are terminated for the time
being at least. and in the hope OF every
American, permanently. But even a league
Of nations cannot relieve a country, witt
4 seacoast like ours. from the necessity
OF policing our own shores; league Of
nations, indeed. may conceivably require
America to participate in the organization,
maintenance and operation OF an interna-
tfonaI sea police that will call for ever
rreater naval resources than the signinf
- .hA armistice found US possessed Of, ef-
F,cient and extensive as those were.
From War Work to Peace.
81 while the concern OF the public. other
th.n mere curiosity, with the scientific
achievements OF the army. is centered
chiefly and properly upon the possible ap-
,,,;cation OF these technical developments
!, tba nursuits OF peace, the matter OF
o,,r naval strength is one OF continuing
,,t.r.st in peace as well as in war. and
..r though there may be little or no d.
->ct application to industry ana COM
,,.rca resulting from the scientific re-
and developments Of the Naval
Consulting Board. some Of these secrets.
-h,ch can now be disclosed for the first
.,,n. have an interest and Importance ex-
tendins beyond their usefulness in the war
vhich has Just terminated.
or these technical secrets. so Tar As tney