SCIENCE IN WAR.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 349, 7 February 1917, Page 2

SCIENCE IN WAR.

NOTHING NEW IN USE.

THOMAS EDISON’S VIEWS

Mr Edison, the famous inventor and head of the American Naval Consulting Board, in an interview: “Science will give us anything. I have been astonished by the fact that there is nothing new in this war. I had expected new things, at least of the Germans. But there have been no new things not eyen new atrocities or novel brutalities. All in the way of cruelties and oppression which has happened in Belgium and North France might have been done in the Dark Ages. All that has happened which may be classified as scientific advance has been obvious—the mere, and sometimes maladroit application to war of principles and even definite, devices perfectly well known to peace. So, while science is willing t> {tiic. us anything we ask she has given Europe verj little that is new for the promotion of this struggle. I must not sav too much about what she might have given, but this much I am willing to say; there is no scientific iefw>n for the ignorance of any nail as te file exact whereabouts of eninu ships within reasonable distances Even as to the exact whereabouts of enemy submarines within restricted areas. All sides have failed to .take advantage of modem science. The world has stood aghast at what Germany has done through the application of age-old gases and projected flame. Both are very old devices, and neither should have caused the enemies of Germany any trouble whatsoever.

“It is in France that we find the finest phase of the tragic spectacle of the war. To me this war has proved that France is the banner nation of the world. In her we see a nation really governed by the people, vftio really love it, and will fight and sacrifice themseyes for it with an unselfish enthusiasm not seen elsewhere. It may have been paralleled by the creeds of out Americans in the days of our revolutionary war, but I doubt even that. To my mind, the French are proving themselves to be the real people of the world, the most splendid people, possibly that the world ever has known,’for they are combining wonderful, efficiency with an absolute devotion which rises to height? of almost fanatical self-sacrifice. In France I see a nation which has sought and found more of the rea l than any other nation in the world. They have a real culture, not of business ability, and practical achievement only, like ours in America, not of tradition, and inherited money like that of the English They have a real aristocracy—not like ours, of money, nor like England’s, of birth, but of sheer worth And if they are exhibiting in these days the advantages of not worshipping money as we in America do, or blood as the British do, or militarism as the Germans do, they are showing still more clearly an admirable patriotism—devoted to a degree superb to, contemplate. And perhaps best of nil, even in the j bitter conflict of this war, they haveshown themselves free from that brutality which has so geserally", characterised their German foes, j It is my firm belief that. the des-1 truction of France would be the worst disaster which could befall the world to-day. ’’

“I had begun to hope that the reign of comparatively, complete sanity really had begun upon the earth. Now this is not true and I am doubtful if it ever will be true. Surely it will not be true, in mj 7 day dr yours. Good education is the hope of the world, and the ambition of the best people in every country is to try and see to it that the masses in that country shall have an opportunity for the best of education. But education has been used as a lever cf oppression and a cloak for deceit oftener than most of us realise. Here in the United States our whole commercial system is the result of bad economic education—not ignorance mind you, but false education. Much of Government elsewhere has meant exploitation, and the heads of Government in such cases have been trained as exploiters. “In England education has been different from ,in Germay. Very likely many of its details have been worked out. with less perfection. But the omission of one study from the English schools (and from Great Britain generally) saved England, and will save her. Nowhere were Englishmen instructed in the divine right of Kings; everywhere they were and are instructed in the inalienable right of the individual to work out his own destiny as long as in so doing he does not interfere with the similar rights of other individuals.

“Germany miscalculated when she figured out the British. She has written more and known less about human psychology than any other nation in the world’s history. She thought the British were too slow, too sodden, to get into the war before Belgium had been stolen France had been defeated and Russia had been checked.”