"FRAYS."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1909, 18 November 1913, Page 10

"FRAYS."

ENGINEER'S, AMAZING CLAIM. MISHAP AT EXPERIMENT. Sigiior Ulivi, the- inventor of the machines by which, according, to his claim, ammunition. depots can ,bo blown. up at a distance, is now in Florence. Ho lias given, an explanation of his invention, says the "Central News," to a ; liowspiiper representative-, stating dvituig the interview that tho machine projects to any distanco rays, designated as Hays" at a. speed of 360,000 metres a minute. These rays, declares • Sigiior, Ulivi, have tljo power of causing ' electric sparks upon all metallic objects with which they come in contact. When the "If Mays'' are directed upon a battleship electric sparks flash silt everywhere in the exterior and interior of the vessel, and the sparks occurring 111 tho ammunition magazines cause the explosion of the aniuiunitiOit.

Signer Ulivi has inado a' number of experiments which, ho states, have resuited in success, ilo owes his invention to chance. AVhilo hq was endeavouring' iu ■ his laboratory at Cliciiy to transform solar light into electricity, he attempted to produce electro-magnotio vibrations, and found that ilio undulations caused alt metallic objects in the laboratory to sound on the production of a spark of great intensity. Then ho studied tlie new phenomenon, and sue' eeeded in completing his ni:u:hiiie. Signer Ulivi gave the following account of his first practical ■experiment; ''One evening I thought of projecting the 'F Bays' against tiio gas-meter. I did so., and the meter blew up. My laboratory was destroyed, and I escaped bj; a mira.ele. _ from that time I made further experiments in a similar direction, and iiaving obtained permission' to em-ua-rjr&.oii tho yacht Lady Heuritte at TroUville, I blew op three mines ,in the port in the presenco of a inimbei' of Pfolieh officers. Heneeforth I was'.sure of tho terrible efficacy of my machine. "I have come to Italy to offer my invention to tlie Italian. Government Which is about to carry out experiments . with it." .

These experiments were to take place at Spezzia, and several old ships and torpedo-boats were to he utilised.