The acceptance by Thomas A. Edison of a position as the head of an
advisory defense board of civilian inventors and engineers for a bureau
of invention and development which the Navy Department is to create, is
an important step in the adoption of a rational national policy. The
submarine, the airship and many other of the appliances which have made
modern war so terrible and effective are of American origin. American
invention and ingenuity have given the world the locomotive engine, the
steam boat, the magnetic telegraph, the telephone, the phonograph, the
sewing machine, the reaper, the harvester, the steam traction plow, the
automobile, and other appliances which have changed the face of modern
civilization. American ingenuity has reigned supreme alike in inventions
of peace and of war, but our country has not profited to the full from
the genius of our inventors. Men of other nations have seized upon
American ideas and perfected them to their own profit. This is notably
the case with the warlike appliances. The European nations now at war
have developed the submarine and the aircraft to the point of
astonishing efficiency, while the United States has lagged behind. In
case of war, our submarine and aircraft service would, in its present
condition of development, be vastly inferior to that of either Germany,
England, or France.
The United States either wants to be prepared for war, or it does not.
If it does, it wants the best preparation. Mr. Edison has been invited
to head the advisory board because of some views in regard to national
defenses expressed by him several months ago. He stated at that time
that he would establish vast reserve stores of arms and ammunition, and
would count rather upon automobiles than upon the railroads for quick
transportation. He would also build many aeroplanes and submarines, and
would keep our battleships and battle cruisers in dry-dock—practically
in storage—but maintained in perfect efficiency, ready for use in case
they should be needed for defense. He said he thought an army of 100,000
men, well trained men, backed by an efficient militia, and ample stores
of munitions and weapons and other equipment, would be sufficient, but
he would also have 40,000 drill sergeants selected and trained to
instruct quickly a vast number of soldiers.
This, it will be seen, is a purely defensive military policy. Mr.
Edison’s ideas may be more or less valuable, but his inventive genius
and practical skill are undoubted, and his presence on a board composed
of mechanical and scientific experts will furnish an assurance that the
best methods to insure the nation’s safety from hostile attack will be
adopted.
* * * * *
Perseverance is more prevailing than violence and many things which
can not be overcome when they are together yield themselves up when
taken little by little.
_Plutarch._