WAR INVENTIONS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 147, 15 April 1940, Page 7

WAR INVENTIONS

BRITAIN CONSIDERS 300 A WEEK LOCUSTS BY PARACHUTE More than 300 new war inventions a week reach "S.R.D.", the section of the Ministry of Supply which deals with secret devices, and something like one in every hun dred proves of value to a greater or lesser decree. Sometimes, unknown to the inventor, his machine contains the germ of an idea which can be developed for some purpose quite different from what he had intended. Some suggestions are utterly fantastic, such as a scheme for dropping locusts in glass bottles attached to small parachutes behind the enemy's lines next summer to eat up all his agricultural produce. "Death rays" arrive regularly, and one man suggested dropping petrol over the enemy lines and setting it alight. A radio device was claimed to bring down aeroplanes, produce burns* counteract gas. and to everything else except break the Ten Commandments. But every single invention, however absurd it may appear, is closely examined by experts. Hundreds of British scientists including the famous astronomer Sir James Jeans and Professor William Bragg the X-rays expert, have put aside personal convenience and political (Continued at foot of next column)

opinion to offer their services to the Government and are working with the scientific departments of the three Services in what is probably the most comprehensive mobilisation of scientific and technical talent in the national service that the world has ever known. Researches are directed to increasing Britain's immense industrial efficiency as well as to replying to secret weapons and improving on Britain's own armoury.