The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-04-08
Revelations in London Show Hith-
erto UndiscIosed Part of
America in War.
OPENS EYES OF navy men
On the New Mexico Gives World a
Successful Revolution in the Pro.
pu!sion Of the Biggest Fight
ing Ships-Navai Sci.
ence Advanced.

London.-Josephus Daniels, secre-
tary of the navy congratulated Ad-
mfral Griffin and W. L. r. Emmett
upon having given the world, in the
New Mexico. 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
rropelling 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 ad-
mitted that American enterprise and
foresight to the possibilities of really
useful invention have opened the eyes
of the naval authorities on this side.
to the great and farSreaching impor-
tance of what, from insufficient inves-
tisa:ion 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 Bio Idea Plain.
Although previous lectures on the
subject were heard at the Franco-Brft-
iSh exhibition in London as far back
as 1908, as regards it's application to
the merchant marine, it 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
in London, and the inventor ahd pat
entee in many countries Of the s'Par-
eagOn'' system, interested q learned au-
.dience Of naval and marine engineers
at Chatham by lecturing on the possi-
hflities of polyphase alternating cur
rent electrical power transmission for
main marine propulsion and speed
regulation. n..,~----~-.-. =
He described how he had then got
the Paragon" system so complete that
by q simple method an electrical speed
reduction gear was formed and any
''.ahead'' or "astern'' speed from zero
to maximum could then be given to the
pfopellers with the turbines running
at all times in one direction, and at
constant revolution speed, at the same
time demonstrating that with this ad-
van6ed system a fuel saving Of no
less than 26 per cent could be secured
over the latest type battleship, name
~, the then new and original dread
Haught."
Here Is the Inventors Answer
In copy of the lecture which l
got Captain Durtnall to exhume for
me, he said:
'sBy the adoption Of this polyphase
alternating current induction electric
motor it is possible to do what is not
possible to do with any other kind CT
motor Of equal power and revolution
speed that is, to make them sufficient.
" small in diameter that they will go
into the narrow after-lineS of war
ships, and at the same time to ob-
tain the maximum Of efficiency at the
least possible cost.
'The heating losses Of this type, OF
motor are reduced to q minimum
amount, and require comparatively lit
tie attention; it is also quite light IN
weight per horse power given off, and
has become very popular on shore Of
recent years, mainly owing to it's pow
erful starting torque and it's freedom
from commutators and brush-gear.
"a burnt-out armature-the perpet-
ual source of dread to other types of
electric motor in practice-is practi-
casly unknown in this type, even when
put to such severe service as propeller
rever ng. Indeed, it's depreciation un
der ). Der conditions for which 1t
would ne designed is as low as any
other type OF revolving mechanical ma
chinery, and owing to its peculiar rdn-
ming character it is especially suit
able for main marine propulsion work
on battleships, and especially as this
efficient electric motor can be designed
for large powers, while it's construc-
.tional details represent the very acme
of simplicity"
Hats Her Tendency to Race.
A. feature which the captain also
noted, and laid much stress upon. was
the fact that it was impossible for this
type Of motor to race" when the YES
sci was under heavy rolling or pitch
Ing conditions. and thus allowing the
vessel to run at high speed even In
severe gale and heavy seas. while the
load balanced itself automatically be
tween heavily and lightly immersed
pro pellers, while under those operat
inc conditions u,itbonf OF iniD,