"...Smudge it by many shells...of some black stuff in a tomato can with some TNT...the area will be sufficiently filled to smudge the periscope...[and] if they come up you can plug them."

Legendary "Wizard of Menlo Park" and American Inventor THOMAS EDISON remarkable undated WWI vintage handwritten autograph draft note, in pencil, to U.S. Secretary of the Navy JOSEPHUS DANIELS regarding experiments to blacken and disable the periscopes of enemy submarines, boldly signed "E" at conclusion. Amazing insight into the emerging technology of war from America's greatest inventor, boldly advocating to "plug" the enemy "if they come up."

Navy Secretary Daniels recognized the usefulness of Edison's technical expertise, and offered Edison chairmanship of the newly appointed Naval Consulting Board. By 1917, the year America entered the war, Edison had dedicated all of his time to naval research; In all, Edison would spend eighteen months in the field, and would conceive of a total of forty-eight different projects.

A busy Edison writes Daniels:

"A suggestion accompanied with one experiment on smudging periscopes.

Provide the 3 inch gun on board a destroyer, fast boat or merchantman(?) with a supply of special shells made lighter + longer and substitute for shrapnell (sic) a can of Black liquid X. The shell to be provided with time fuse X find the range with regular shells + then while only periscope is seen, smudge by many shells X. I send you a photo of some black stuff in a tomato can with some TNT + set off by time fuse X.

If several shells per minute can be fired the area will be sufficiently filled to smudge the periscope due to whirls X

The enemy cannot gets it off by any washing fluid, compressed air - etc. + if they come up you can plug them.

E"

Edison's Xs in text indicate areas where additional information was required before dispatching the letter. Note spans two single-sided pages.

Condition is as shown. Staple indentation in upper left corner, with some scattered wrinkles consistent with age/use/handling. 

CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC BY JAMES SPENCE AUTHENTICATION (JSA) EXPERT EXAMINATION. GUARANTEED GENUINE - simply one of the finest EDISON documents available on the market.

Own a remarkable, museum-quality piece of American history! The perfect gift for the Americana or Edison collector, budding inventor, autograph enthusiast, or History buff. 

Sold as is, as shown.