Engineering at Yale University, and a former Vice-President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Dr. Breckenridge spoke upon the subject, "The Engineer; His Opportunity and His Obligation." The address is printed in this issue of the Proceedings, and will prove of great interest to the engineer who thinks of and takes the broader view of his profession and the obligations resting upon him as an individual member of the profession. At the May meeting Professor Albert Van Hecke of Belgium gave an illustrated lecture entitled "Life in the Belgian Refugee Camps in Holland." Professor Van Hecke was professor of civil engineering in the University of Louvain and was present when that city was sacked and burned by the Germans. Upon the occupation of the greater portion of Belgian territory by the German army large numbers of refugees, made up of people of the poorer and working classes, went over into Holland. The problem of caring for these people was a serious one, and Professor Van Hecke was one of the men called upon to help find the proper solution. At is was desirable to attempt to maintain as far as possible the national character of these refugees, it was decided that they should all be kept together in some form of camp or community. Land of sufficient extent was set aside for this purpose by the Dutch government, roads and systems of drainage were constructed, barracks and houses were built, schools and industries were established, and several hundred thousand of these refugees are living there to-day under conditions which are surprisingly good when one considers the terrific strain upon resources to which all European nations, even neutrals, are subjected at the present time. Professor Van Hecke has been in charge of certain of the industrial features of the camp life, and he has come to this country in order to interest and obtain financial co-operation of Americans in carrying on this very necessary and important work. The lecturer illustrated his remarks by means of moving pictures, showing the more important phases of the every-day life and work of the camp, and he and his co-workers are to be congratulated upon the very excellent results they have obtained with the meager resources at their command. Individual Preparedness.-What is each one of us prepared to do in the war with Germany to which this country proposes to devote all of its great energy and vast resources in order that the nations of the world may continue their existence in a peaceful prosperity, which does not bear the label, "Made in Germany?" This is the subject which Mr. A. M. Shaw has treated in his usual efficient and capable way in a paper read before the Society at the meeting of April ninth. This was a joint meeting of the Engineering Society and the local section of the American Chemical Society, and brought out one of the largest audiences of the season. Among the invited guests were a number of the Army and Navy officers stationed in or about New Orleans, and several of them contributed to the discussion of the paper. This is a subject which appeals particularly to the engineer for the reason that this is peculiarly a war of engineering skill and ingenuity. The engineering profession almost more than any one other profession will be called upon to contribute both men and ideas for the successful completion of the task which our country has undertaken. There is as yet a good deal of uncertainty as to what each individual can do to help out, and it is probably a question of waiting until the Government has been able to get its own plans into more detailed and practical shape. The engineers of the country, through their major organizations, have already done a great service in the Industrial Survey undertaken a short while ago. Practically all of the engineers have through different organizations already placed themselves upon record as to willingness and ability to serve the country in such positions as their services may be most efficiently utilized. A perusal of the paper as well as of the discussion, participated in by many of the members and guests, may well serve to suggest to us ways and means that might be adopted to further aid the Government in its stupendous task. The U-Boat Problem.-Beat the U-boats and you have the Germans beaten. This is the great problem of the war. Many of the greatest scientific minds and the most ingenious inventors of the world are turning their whole attention to this problem. But, quoting from the letter printed below, "It must be 860554 remembered that many of our greatest inventions and discoveries have been made by men not specialists in the particular field in which the discovery has been made." Many men are thinking about this submarine problem, and perhaps some person may have the nucleus of a very excellent idea. The Government wants these ideas. In order to bring the matter to the attention of engineers and scientific men throughout the country the National Research Council is sending out the letter and memoranda printed below, a copy of which has just been received by Prof. W. B. Gregory. In order to give it a wider circulation it has been decided to print it in this issue of the Proceedings: NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL ENGINEERING COMMITTEE W. F. DURAND, Vice-Chairman MY DEAR MR. GREGORY: WASHINGTON, 21 May, 1917. The problem of the submarine is the most important individual problem of the war. Its solution is the most important question confronting the Allies at the present time. As one of the co-ordinate branches of the Research Council there has recently been organized an Engineering Committee with offices in Washington and New York; it is in contact with the work of the other committees of the Council and with the various problems which are brought to its notice by the several branches of the Government. The primary purpose of this Committee is to act as an intermediary between the needs of the Government on the one hand and the vast field of potential human energy and genius represented by the engineers of the United States. Under these circumstances and having in view the su preme importance of the submarine problem, the Engineering Committee appeals to you to devote your best thought and study to this problem and to transmit to the undersigned, at the earliest moment, any suggestions which, in your opinion, may give promise of effective service in dealing with any or all of the various phases of the problem. It must be remembered that many of our greatest inventions and discoveries have been made by men not specialists in the particular field in which the discovery has been made. It may thus well remain for some one not a specialist in these matters to contribute most valuable factors in dealing with the problems. It must also be remembered that presumably the solution is manifold and may represent a joint application of many different elements under the general heads of: Detection of the presence or location of a submarine. For these reasons the Committee bespeaks your earnest efforts and asks that you will not withhold from its consideration any carefully thought out scheme or suggestion which may seem to hold the germ of a helpful idea. As an aid in your consideration of the problem, certain facts are given on the accompanying sheet regarding ap proaching a study of the problem. In conclusion I beg to say that you cannot overestimate the importance of this problem at the present time and while other agencies and individuals are now and have been for some period engaged in its study, there is still room—nay, more, urgent need, of the very best efforts which the engineers of the country can contribute. We are sending this letter to selected members of the Engineering Societies distributed over the United States. May we ask you to act as a secondary center of distribution and by word of mouth or otherwise, bring the matter to the attention of others who, in your judgment, might be able to contribute helpfully to the solution of the problem? Faithfully yours, Address: W. F. DURAND, (Signed) W. F. DURAND, Vice-Chairman in Charge Work of the Engineering Committee. 327 Munsey Building, Washington, D. C. MEMORANDA ON SUBMARINES Submarines operate singly or in groups as may seem best suited to local or special conditions. They are suppsoed, where circumstances favor, to lie on the bottom at rest and with listening devices attempt to detect the approach of vessels. On receipt of evidence that a vessel is approaching, they rise to a level permitting observation with periscope, and then manoeuver accordingly. When in water too deep to permit lying on bottom, the submarine must maintain steerage way in order to hold its level of submergence. The minimum speed at wihch this can be done will range with circumstances from 2 to 4 knots. The maximum depth of submergence is about 200 feet. The usual depth of running is from 50 to 100 feet. They have been supposed to return to the home base at intervals of 30 to 35 days. The total radius of action will presumably range from 5,000 to 8,000 miles at a moderate cruising speed of 10 or 11 knots. The high speed emerged will range from 14 to 18 knots, or possibly more in latest designs. The maximum submerged speed is about 10 knots. Hidden bases have been presumably used off the Irish and other coasts. There have also been suspicions of bases on the coasts of Greenland and Iceland. Submerged bases for oil and supplies have also been employed. The time required from emergence to submergence will range from 1 to 3 or 4 minutes, according to circumstances. |