The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-03-21
Revelations in London Show Hith.
erto UndiscIosed Part of
America in War.
OPENS eyes OF NAVY MEN
In the New Mexico Gives World q
Successful Revolution In the Pro.
puIslon Of the Biggest Fight
Ing Ships-Navai Sci.
eace Advanced.

London. -cssephus Daniels, secre-
fary OF the navy congratulated AID.
miral Griffin and w. l.. II. Emmett
upon having given the world, in the
New Mexico, q successful revolution
In the propulsion OF the biggest fight
Ing ships" adding: "As so often be-
fore, American ingenuity and inven-
tive skill now lead the world in the
propelling of battleships." He seems
TO have been unaware that In this case
the ingenuity and inventive skill
originated In England. Otherwise, one
may be sure, he would have been the
first to give credit where credit was
due.
At the same time it must be adj
mitted that American enterprise and
foresight to the possibilities of q really
useful invention have opened the eyes
of the naval authorities on this side,
to the great and far-reaching impor-
lance of what, from insufficient inves-
tigation and wrong expert advice, they
had discarded.
The history of the evolution and per-
fect'on of what Is known over here as
the Paragon" thermo-electric ship
propulsion system, and, as is used in
the New Mexico. the Importance of
whose successful trials, though an
ncunced by Mr.. Daniels early last De-
cember. has just been discovered by
the English press, is interesting.
This Makes the Big Idea Plain.
Although previous lectures on the
subject were heard at the Franco-Brit-
ish exhibition In London as far back
as 1908, as regards it's application to
the merchant marine, 1t is just ten
years ago that William p. Durt.
nall, a prominent member OF the In
stitute of Marine Engineers, London,
now a staff captain in the technical
side of the royal air force, stationed
I'm London, and the inventor and pat.
entee In many countries Of the par.
agon" system, interested a learned au.
dience Of naval and marine engineers
at Chatham by l~ecturing on the posi-
bilities of polyphase alternating cur
rent electrical power transmission fol
main marine propulsion and speed
regulation.
He described how he had then got
the Paragon" system so complete thai
by a simple method an electrical speed
reduction gear was formed and ans
ahead" or eastern" speed from zero
to maximum could then be given to the
propellers with the turbines running
at all times In one direction, and al
constant revolution speed, at the same
time demonstrating that with this ad
vanced system a fuel saving of M
less than 20 per cent could be secured
over the latest type battleship. name
ly, the then new and original "dread
aausht."
Here 10 the inventors Answer.
In a copy OF the lecture which
got Captain Durtnall to exhume To-
me, he said:
by the adoption of this polyphas'
alternating current induction electri
motor 1t Is possible to do what is no
possible to do with any other kind o
motor Of equal power and revolution
speed; that is, to make them sufficient
ly small In diameter that they will g
into the narrow after-lines Of wal
ships, and at the same time to OF
tain the maximum of efficiency at tn
least possible cost.
1.-THE heating losses of this type o
motor are reduced to a minimum
amount, and require comparatively Iii
tie attention II is also quite light 1
weight per horse power given off, an
has become very popular on shore o
recent years, mainly owing to its pow
erful starting torque and it's freedom
from commutators and brush-gear.
"a burnt-out armature-the perpe-
ual source of dread to other types Q
electric motor in practice-is pract
cally unknown in this type, even whe
put to such yer service as propelle
reversing. Indeed. Its depreciation III
der proper conditions for which
would be designed Is as low as an
other type Of revolving mechanical m,
chinery, and owing to its peculiar rur
ming character 1t Is especially sui
able for main marine propulsion wor
on battleships. and especially as TIL
efficient electric motor a be designc
for large powers. while its constru'
tional details represent the very acm
of simplicity"
Hats Her Tendency to Race.
A feature which the captain ais
noted, and laid much stress upon, We
the fact that 1t was impossible for tn
type of motor to race" when the We
sci was under heavy rolling or pitc
ing conditions, and thus allowing Il
vessel to run at high speed even in
severe gale and heavy seas, while IL
load balanced itself automatically b
tween heavily and lightly immerst
propellers. while under those opera
Ing conditions and without Strainil