24 THE NEW WORLD OF SCIENCE 



of a better fuel for airplane motors, and the causes and reme- 

 dies of the low efficiency of carburetors ; the location and pur- 

 chase or loan of apparatus required by the Government; the 

 sources of ceramic war materials; the preparation of courses 

 in chemistry, combustion and fuel engineering and a special 

 war curriculum in ceramic engineering for use by the Students 

 Army Training Corps ; the waterproofing of fabrics ; the prep- 

 aration of standard specifications for glues and gelatines. 

 Most of these activities, and many others of the most varied 

 nature, were undertaken at the request of various branches of 

 the Government. 



The response of American engineers to the numerous de- 

 mands of the war was quick and effective, and thousands of 

 them saw service at home and abroad. The manufacture of 

 munitions of every kind and the erection of new plants for 

 war purposes absorbed great numbers of engineers in this 

 country, and in France their activities were even more varied. 

 In the work of the Research Council they also played a 

 prominent part, and the cooperative investigations set on foot 

 by the Division of Engineering to meet war needs are being 

 continued and expanded in all directions. 



One of these, which led to the development of a helmet of 

 remarkable qualities, enlisted the joint efforts of men of the 

 most diversified experience. An authority on arms and armor, 

 familiar 1 * with the practice of all ages, applied his knowledge 

 to the design of the helmet. A distinguished metallurgist speci- 

 fied the composition of the special steels employed, and tested 

 the models by machine gun fire. Associated with them were 

 able engineers and metallurgists, competent to deal with every 

 aspect of the question. Another metallurgical problem arose 

 from faulty procedure in making and forging the steel ingots 

 used in the manufacture of shells, cannon, crank-shafts, etc. 

 Flaws resulted from the inexperience of manufacturers hastily 

 called upon to supply an overwhelming demand, and the con- 

 sequent rejection of the forgings appreciably delayed our war 

 preparations. How this difficulty was overcome is described 



