Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-07

that not more than 6 per cent of the
sinkings took place at night.
Mr.. Edison commenced to work out
his plans for tho ships to sail In and
out OF the danger zone at night: to
forsake the old standard lines OF
travel as much as possible: to :tichor
through the day In comparatively
shallow waters and harbors where
submarines could not approach them.
steaming only at night to other ports
destinations.
Strategic Maps.
Mr.. Edison prepared u new set
OF strategic maps on which ne
chartered the harbors In which there
was safe anchorage for q long dis
lance inshore in comparatively shall
low. but sale waters. where sub
marines could not approach SUBJ
merged.
Other wartime inventions by Mr..
Edison were cartridge for taking
soundings: a convoy light visible to
all the vessels in the convoy, but in
visible from the decks of Il submarine;
an underwater scarchlight capable Of
throwing rays 200 feet: projccti!c
that would enter the water from an
angle instead Of rlchocheting; a sta
oliZer for submerged submarines. and
Il time fuse to cause shrapnel to
burst only six feet above the ground.
He devised u mask to protect OBJ
servers on the tops OF inasts from
smokcstack gas. turbine head for
projectiles which enabled the latter
to be fired from smooth bore guns and
still have rotation and accuracy:
drew UP plans for mining Zeebrugge
harbor. and developed Il method by
which communicating signals between
warships could be sent by means OF
mirrors.
Prevented StnkInps
Mr.. Edison devoted Il great deal of
thought 10 various plans for prevent
ing sinkings. and he suggested 4
Number OF schemes to this end. one
Of these was Il proposition to Turn
ish merchant ships with type or
specially designed thrce-inch shells
ing compound with which TO blind
submarines IL they had long range
The problem OF ex,inguish!ng. n-es
small stream o. siiicate of soda PLAY
cd on a coal or wood fire. The mo-
mcnt the silicate strikes tn. mean.
descent body the small quantity Of
water In the sIlicatc cvaporates, and
the glowing body becomes coated
oxygen and eXtinSnish!ng the fire.
"Dir~ctiOr Finder"
The study OF direction finder for
hostile airplanes Was undertaken to
determine the direction OF plane
the direction OF the source Of the
sound given on By it's engines. This
liz how II was done:
Two horns at a fixed angle to one
another conveyed the sound 10 OPP
positc sides Of the same diaphragm
and swung the horn system. both in
horizontal and vertical planes. until
there was no movement Of the d!a-
phragm. because the sounds convey
ed by both horns were of equal value
and therefore ncutralized one an
other.
II was found very difficult to get
zero readings. but with some train
ing on the part Of the observer the
direction could he determined with
considerable accuracy.
Having learned that telephone sys-
Tens on ships were not very reliable.
Mr.. Edison devised one that was. lie
discarded microphones and subst!-
tuted ;he receiving phone for 4
iransmitter. The signals being weak.
he anpl!ned with an audior. which
made the signals 70 loud as TO be
painful to the ear.
Mr.. Edison also invented an extern
sion ladder which could be attached
To the top of the mast and give an
observer a location 81 feet above the
top OF the mast This device ,ncreas-
ed the area Of observation.