The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-11-22
YANKEE INGENUITY
DEFEATED U-BOATS
Navy Releases Story of
American Inventions
in War

The part American ingenuity
! played in winning the war is disclosed
in history of the naval consulting
board of the United States just made
public by Secretary Daniels.
The volume reveals achievements
which, if projected year ago, pro-
badly would have been ridiculed as
visionary" Chief among these was
device by which the launching of
torpedo could be heard on ship
board 1000 yards away--or further
than a torpedo can be effectively
launched from submarine.
This invention was but one of
score or more contributed by Thomas
A. Edison, president of the board.
Mr.. Edison appears to have been
the moving spirit of the board. For
saking his laboratories at the out
break of the war, he practically be-
came naval officer. He spent most
of his time in the navy department
offices and took long deep sea cruises
that he might be in closer touch with
the problems to be solved.
Detector Perfected
Because of the German submarine
menace, ship protection claimed most
of the attention of the board. To this
problem Mr.. Edison devoted his ira
ditional twenty-hour working days,
and after overcoming many obstacles
finally perfected his listening device.
The contrivance was in the form
of an outrigger suspended from the
Il ~ oG FOL ,if,o
an immense photograph diaphragm,
By means of compensators the noise
of the vessels engines were obli-
terated, thus making it possible for
the device to work perfectly even
when the ship was blowing at full
speed through the toughest seas.
With this device boats moving
1900 yards away could be readily
heard while the vessel was going full
speed A submarine bell five and one
half miles away could also be heard
while big storm was in progress
and the boat also proceeding at full
speed.
Mr.. Edison followed this invention |
with a device for the quick turning |
Of vessel whenever the detector in
Dictated that a torpedo was coming |
in the vessels direction. He did this |
by means of strong conical canvas
bags. A heavy rope was attached to
the mouth of the bag and a light rope
in a slipknot, to the tapering end.
Drag For Quick Veering
When cast into the sea the mouth
opened, filling the bag with water and
thus acting as a drag. By pulling the
lighter rope the small end of the bag
was opened. This let the water out,
relieving the resistance.
Four Of these bags cast from the side
If a 5000-ton ship laden with 1000
,ons of coal caused it to turn ninety
degrees from her course in two min
ties, with an advance of only 200
,eet.
Night sailing of ships next at
racted his attention. By working day
md night over the records of sub
marine sinking he discovered that
lot more than per cent of the sink
ngs took place at night.
Mr.. Edison commenced to work out
lis plans for the ships to sail in and
,ut of the danger zone at night; to
'orsake the old standard lines of
ravel as much as possible; to an
,hor through the day in compare
lively shallow waters and harbors
where submarines could not approach
hem, steaming only at night to other
)orts of anchorage on the way to
heir destinations.
Strategic Maps
Mr.. Edison prepared new set of
strategic maps on which he charted
he harbors in which there was safe
anchorage for long distance inshore
n comparatively shallow, but safe
waters, where submarines could not
approach submerged.
Other wartime inventions by Mr..
Edison were a cartridge for taking
oundings; convoy light visible to
Ill the vessels in the convoy, but in
'isiEle from the decks of a sutma-