D 570 .8 .N3 P 1917 Copy 5 COUNCIL • OF NATIONAL DEFENSE I NATIONAL • RESEARCH COUNCIL Basis of Organization and Means of Co-operation with State Councils of Defense Washington, May 1, 1917 .■^•3 As n. of i^. fES 15 1919 Council of National Defense National Research Council Basis of Organization and Means of Co-operation with State Councils cf Defense One of the most striking results of the war is its demonstration of the import- ance of scientific research in strengthen- ing the national defense. Soon after the opening of hostilities, England and France were faced with industrial and military demands soluble only in their research laboratories. Looking ahead, it was seen that the conclusion of peace would be followed by a trade war with Germany, in which no industry not per- fected by scientific research could be ex- pected to survive. As a consequence there arose through governmental action in England, France, Australia, New Zea- land and Canada a group of research organizations charged with the miobiliza- tion of scientific men and laboratories for the study of military and industrial prob- lems. The value of their contributions to military practice has been recognized by the French Minister of War and by Sir Douglas Haig in his reports from the front. The success of their eflforts to re- lieve industrial distress resulting from the stoppage of exclusively German pro- aucts has greatly enhanced the apprecia- tion of scientific research by British and French manufacturers. Thus the scien- tific methods which He at the basis of Germany's military and industrial strength have been effectively adopted by the Governments and peoples of the En- tente. In April, 1916, soon after the attack on the "Sussex" and our consequent demands for the cessation of submarine warfare had developed a critical situation with Germany, the President requested the National Academy of Sciences to organ- ize the scientific resources of the United States in the interest of national security and welfare. The request of the Presi- dent called for immediate and vigorous action. He expressed the desire that the Academy should coordinate the scien- tific resources of the entire country and secure the cooperation of all agencies, governmental, educational, and indus- trial, in which research facilities are available. The National Research Council, com- prising the chiefs of the technical bureaus of the Army and Navy, the heads of Government bureaus engaged in scien- tific research, a group of investigators representing educational institutions and research foundations, and another group including representatives of industrial and engineering research was accordingly constituted with the active cooperation 2 of the leading national scientific and en- gineering societies. The representatives of the Government were appointed by the President, who promised his cordial support and the cooperation of the Gov- ernment departments. Subsequently, (February 28, 1917) the Council of Na- tional Defense adopted the following resolution : "Resolved, That the Council of Na- tional Defense, recognizing that the Na- tional Research Council, at the request of the President of the United States, has organized the scientific forces of the coun- try in the interest of national defense and national welfare, requests that tiie Na- tional Research Council cooperate with it in matters pertaining to scientific research for national defense; and to this end the Council of National Defense suggests that the National Research Council appoint a committee of not more than three, at least one of whom shall be located in Washini?- ton, for the purpose of maintaining active relations with the Director of the Council of National Defense." Since that time the National Research Council has acted as a department of the Council of National Defense, charged with the organization of scientific re- searches bearing on the national defense and on industries affected by the war. WORK OF THE RESEARCH COUNCIL In times of peace the work of the Research Council involves the promo- 3 tion of research in every department of pure and applied science. At present, however, the attention of the Council is concentrated on war problems, both mili- tary and industrial. Let us see how these are attacked. The Military Committee consists of the Surgeon General of the Army, the Medi- cal Director of the Navy, the Chiefs of Ordnance of the Army and Navy, the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, the Chief Naval Constructor, the Engineer in Chief of the Navy, and the Director of the Bureau of Mines, the Chief of the Weather Bureau, the Director of the Geological Survey, Mr. Howard Coffin of the Advisory Commission of the Council of National Defense, the Direc- tor of the Bureau of Standards (Secre- tary), and the Secretary of the Smiths- onian Institution (Chairman). This committee formulates most of the mili- tary problems, designating in each case an officer in one of the technical bureaus of the Army or Navy who is familiar with the requirements and with whom the investigator engaged in the work may keep in touch. Dr. Robert A. Millikan, Vice Chairman of the Council charged with the correlation of researches bearing on the national defense, then organizes the investigation by enlisting the ser- vices of one or more men especially quali- fied by experience and laboratory equip- ment. If, as is usually advisable, several research men attack the problem simul- taneously, Dr. Millikan arranges for any desired cooperation between them. Free- dom of initiative is encouraged, and any attempt at hampering control or inter- ference with the freedom of action re- quired for successful research is care- fully avoided. The above remarks relate more parti- cularly to physical research, though Dr. Millikan's field of activity embraces a much wider range. Associated with him in Washington are Dr. Bogert, Chairman of the Chemistry Committee, and Dr. Vaughan, Chairman of the Committee on Medicine and Hygiene. These Chairmen, and those of the other committees of the Research Council, are constantly engaged in organizing researches in their respec- tive fields, in cooperation with the Mili- tary Committee and with Dr. Millikan. In this way, a most helpful and inspiring association of our individual investiga- tors, our universities, our industries, and the various branches of our Federal Gov- ernment, is being brought about — a co^ operation which is of the utmost value to any country and which is vital to it in time of war. It may be of interest here to give some illustrations of the ways in which the various committees are contributing to the national defense. Mathematics (Dr. E. H. Moore, Chair- man) and Astronomy (Dr. E. C. Pickering, Chairman) Hydrodynamical investigations bearing on ship design and improvement of air- craft. Statistical ^studies and compu- tations required in any field. Optical devices for lookouts, to facilitate the de- tection of the periscopes of submarines. Physics (Dr. R. A. Millikan, Chairman) Exhaustive study of devices for de- tecting completely submerged submarines and mines ; range finders of various types ; devices for detecting invisible air- craft and sapping parties ; improvements in wireless apparatus and other instru- ments used with aircraft ; military photo- graphy. Chemistry (Dr. Marston T. Bogert, Chairman) Generation, detection and absorption of hydrogen, and problems incidental thereto; absorption of other gases, par- ticularly noxious ones ; fire extinguishers ; prevention of corrosion and electrolytic action on the hulls of vessels ; non-corro- sive metals and alloys for a great variety of uses ; balloon fabrics ; fabrics for army slickers ; bacteriological and biological stains ; synthetic drugs ; special reagents for investigators ; new explosives ; new sources of important products ; utilization of wastes and by-products. 6 Botany (Dr. J. M. Coulter, Chairman) Organization of a botanical raw pro- ducts clearing house, to aid manufac- turers needing raw products of a botani- cal nature such as gums, oils, resins, fibres, wood, etc. to find either new geo- graphical sources or new specific sources. Geography, (Dr. W. M. Davis, Chair- man) Special maps for military purposes ; instructions for the use of topographic maps ; handbooks on military areas ; physiographic features of the United States. Geology (Dr. J. M. Clarke, Chairman) Camp sites ; finding of water supply ; materials for road building; topographic structure of military areas; supply of necessary minerals. Medicine and Hygiene (Dr. Victor C. Vaughan, Chairman) and Physiology (Dr. Walter B. Cannon, Chairman) Anti-toxins and serums for diphtheria, tetanus, pneumonia, dysentery and men- ingitis ; intradermal method of vaccinat- ing for smallpox ; polyvalent vaccines for typhoid fever; sterilization of drinking water ; toxicity of preserved foods ; sol- diers clothing and blankets; infected wounds ; shock ; fatigue ; occupational diseases, with special reference to muni- 7 tion workers ; protection of the ear from high explosives ; instruction of Army and Navy surgeons in the Carrel method of antiseptic surgery. Anthropology (Dr. W. H. Holmes, Chairman) and Anatomy (Dr. H. H. Donaldson, Chair- man) Physical and hygienic requirements of recruits for the Army and Navy ; langu- age requirements; condition of teeth; abnormalities ; minimum height and weight ; standardization of measure- ments ; data and materials for scientific research. Psychology (Dr. Robert M. Yerkes, Chairman) Organization of psychological tests for use in recruiting, to eliminate mental defectives and nervous types ; selection of recruits especially adapted for aviation and other difficult tasks ; study and treat- ment of returned soldiers, nervously or mentally affected ; aid in re-education of partially incapacitated men; aid in de- ciding government liability and award of pensions. Engineering (Mr. Gano Dunn, Chair- man) This committee, which will organize research in the various branches of en- gineering, has just been organized with the cooperation of the national engineer- ing societies. In addition to the above general com- mittees, the Research Council, has a number of special committees dealing with important problems. Nitrate Supply (Dr. Arthur A. Noyes, Chairman) This committee, which was appointed at the request of the Secretary of War to consider the process to be used by the Government in its plant for producing nitrates for explosives and fertilizers, has submitted a full report. Food (Dr. Alonzo Taylor, Chairman) This committee is working in co- operation with the Department of Agri- culture and with Mr. Hoover's Food Committee. An extensive investigation of the toxi- city of preserved foods is also being con- ducted by Dr. Rosenau in consultation with an advisory committee named by the Research Council. Optical Glass (Dr. Robert A. Millikan, Chairman) Through the cooperation of the Bureau of Standards and the Geophysical Lab- oratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington with glass manufacturers, the problem of supplying optical glass for military purposes is well advanced toward solution. Foreign Service Committee (Dr. Joseph S. Ames, Chairman) ' The first step in any work of research is to learn what has already been ac- complished in the same field. Great pro- gress has been made abroad since the be- ginning of the war by the scientific in- vestigators of the Allied countries. A committee has accordingly been sent to Europe to report from the front on scien- tific matters of every kind and to arrange for cooperation in the study of questions still underlying military and industrial problems. This committee includes two physicists, two chemists, one metallur- gist, and two representatives of medicine and hygiene. Committees of the Research Council not immediately engaged on national de- fense questions are those on the Promo- tion of Industrial Research (Dr. J. J. Carty, Chairman) and on Zoology (Dr. Edwin G. Conklin, Chairman). The members of the Agriculture Committee (Dr. Raymond Pearl, Chainnan) are co- operating with the Department of Agri- culture in the moblization and develop- ment of the agricultural resources of the country. CENSUS OF RESEARCH A national census of the research facilities of Government bureaus, educa- 10 tional institutions, research foundations, and industrial research laboratories is being taken by the Research Council. The forms from educational institutions, which are coming in rapidly, contain much valuable information bearing on the solution of defense problems. Forms for other institutions are now being sent out. The Committee on Research in Edu- cational Institutions has recommended the formation of Research Committees in universities, colleges, schools of tech- nology, and other educational institu- tions where research is conducted. The Research Committees already established by a large' number of institutions in re- sponse to this request serve as local organizations which work in cooperation with the Research Council. COOPERATION WITH STATE COUNCILS OF DEFENSE The organization of the National Re- search Council is based upon the principle of broad and effective cooperation be- tween the numerous research agencies of the United States and those of the Allied countries. The Council is in reali- ty a federation of research laboratories working together toward a common end. At present its chief purpose is to assist in winning the war, both by the perfec- tion of miilitary devices and by the solu- tion of industrial problems which the war has occasioned. But in the future, as al- ready stated, it will devote its attention to the promotion of research in all branches of pure and applied science. The organization of researches bear- ing on the national defense frequently involves the cooperative effort of many investigators residing in different states. Sometimes the joint action of an entire university laboratory, provided for through the assistance of the Research Council of the university in question, is essential to success. We have several re- searches in hand in which entire labora- tories are taking part. More commonly, however, individual investigators known to be especially qualified are enlisted by the National Research Council from widely scattered institutions. Such is the mode of procedure, neces- sarily followed in the study of national problems. Local questions are constantly arising, however, which can be best solved through the efforts of local investigators familiar with the particular industries or resources involved, acting in coopera- tion with a national body in touch with researches in progress at home and abroad. We accordingly suggest that the repre- sentatives of science and engineering, or the Research Committees appointed by State Councils of Defense for the pur- pose of promoting through scientific in- vestigations the industrial and agricul- 12 tural development of the several States, arrange for close cooperation with the National Research Council. In this way the research activities of the States may be coordinated with one another, and with those of the national Government; and the information secured by the Na- tional Research Council and by the sepa- rate State organizations may be rendered available for all. Communications regarding the Re- search Council may be addressed to the Chairman at the Munsey Building, Washington, D. C. List of Officers and Members Chairman, George E. Hale First vice-chairman, Charles D. Walcott Second vice-chairman, Gano Dunn Third vice-chairman, Robert A. Millikan Secretary, Cary T. Hutchinson Assistant Secretary, Tod Ford Executive Committee J. J. Carty, Chairman Arthur A. Noyes Russell H. Chittenden Raymond Pearl Edwin G. Conklin Michael I. Pupin Gano Dunn S. W. Stratton George E. Hale Victor C. Vaughan Robert A. Millikan Charles D. Walcott William H. Welch 13 Mbmbkrs Carl L. Alsberg, Chief, Bureau of Chetnistry, Dept, of Agriculture Joseph S. Ames, Professor of Physics, Johns Hopkins University Leo H. Baekeland, Past President, American Electrochemical Society Marston T. Bogert, Professor of Organic Chemistry, Columbia University John A. Brashear, Past President, Amer. Soc. of Mechanical Engineers. Walter B. Cannon, Professor of Physiology, Harvard Medical School John J. Carty, Chief Engineer, American Tele- phone & Telegraph Co. Russell H. Chittenden, Director, Sheffield Scientific School, Yale University John M. Clarke, Director, State Museum, Albany, New York Howard E. Coffin, Member Advisory Com- mission, Council of National Defense Edwin G. Conklin, Professor of Zoology, Princeton University John M. Coulter, Professor of Botany, Uni- versity of Chicago William Crozier, Chief of Ordnance, U. S. A. William M. Davis, Professor of Geology, Harvard University Gano Dunn, President J. G. White Engineering Corporation Simon Flexner, Director, Rockefeller Medical Institute James D. Gatewood, Medical Director, Naval Medical School Hollis Godfrey, President, Drexel Institute, Philadelphia William C. Gorgas, Surgeon-General, U. S. A. 14 W. F. M. Goss, Railway Car Manufacturers Association, New York Robert S. Griffin, Engineer in Chief, U. S. N. George E. Hale, Director, Mt. Wilson Solar Observatory Clemens Herchel, President, American Society of Civil Engineers William H. Holmes, Curator, United States National Museum W. W. Keen, President, American Philosophi- cal Society Van H. Manning, Director, Bureau of Mines Franklin H. Martin, Member Advisory Com- mission, Council of National Defense Charles F. Marvin, Chief, United States Weather Bureau Charles E. Mendenhall, Professor of Physics, Univerity of Wisconsin A. A. Michelson, Director, Ryerson Physical Laboratory, University of Chicago Robert A. Millikan, Professor of Physics, University' of Chicago Frederick H. Newell, Professor of Civil En- gineering, University of Illinois Arthur A. Noyes, Director, Research Labora- tory of Physical Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technolog}^ Raymond Pearl, Biologist. Main Agricultural Experiment Station E. C. Pickering. Director, Harvard College Observatory Michael I. Pupin, Professor of Electro- Mechanics, Columbia University Charles F. Rand, President United Engineer- ing Society Theodore W. Richards, Director, Wolcott Gibbs Memorial Laboratory, Harvard Uni- versity 15 C. E. Skinner, Engineer of Research Division, Westinghouse E. & M. Co. George Otis Smith, Director, United States Geological Survey George O. Squier, Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A. S. W. Stratton, Director, Bureau of Standards Ambrose Swasey, Past President, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Alonzo E. Taylor, Medical School, University of Pennsylvania David W. Taylor, Chief Constructor, U. S. N. Elihu Thomson, Past President, Amer. Soc. of Mechanical Engineers C. R. Van Hise, President, Amer. Assoc, for Advancement of Science Victor C. Vaughan, Director, Medical Research Laboratory, University of Michigan Charles D. Walcott, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution William H. Welch, Professor of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical School W. R. Whitney, Director, Research Labora- tory, General Electric Co. R. W. Wood, Professor of Physics, Johns Hopkins University Robert M. Yerkes, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University LIBRARY OF CONGRESS # 020 933 502 5