THE MATTHEWS RAY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2738, 27 May 1924, Page 4

THE MATTHEWS RAY

SALE TO FRENCH FIRM.

“A PRINCELY OFFER.”

The “Daily Chronicle” interviewed Mr. H. Grindell-Matthews, the discoverer of the new electric ray. He says he has practically accepted the offer of a French firm to exploit his rays. “The British Government is interested, but no more, and this princely offer cannot he refused,” he said. The Chantiers dn Rhone, a well-known firm, had placed their big’ laboratories at the inventor’s disposal for experiments, and had also offered him a partnership. A great sensation was created a few weeks ago by reports of demonstrations made by Mr IT. Grinded Matthews of a “new ray” for which remarkable powers were claimed. Mr Grindell-Matthews, who during the war was paid £25,000 for an invention which controlled motor boats by searchlight, claims to have discovered the agency which he thinks was the means the Germans used last autumn to stop French aeroplanes in flight. “A few months ago,” he‘said to the “Daily Mail,” “when I read that. French aeroplanes were repeatedly falling in German territory as the result of mysterious engine trouble when passing over a particular spot T realised that the Germans had found an invisible ray that put the magnetos of the aircraft out of action. I concentrated on efforts to discover hvhat it was, and with the electric ray now atony command T think I have succeeded:” To demonstrate the ray’s power a motor-cycle was started in his laboratory, states the “Daily Mail.” From a distance of 50 feet Mr Grindell-Matthews directed (he lens of his apparatus upon the machine. There was no light, no visible ray of any kind —just a low murmur like a cat purring—but tin 1 engine stopped. Again it. was started. This time the ray was Hashed aeross the machine. The engine missed fire but with the ray immediately removed the momentum of the driving wheel caused the engine to pick up and it was firing regularly again. Once more the ray swept across, and again the engine stopped.” “I am confident,” said Mr Grind-ell-Matthews “that if I have facilities for developing it T can stop aeroplanes in flight —indeed, I believe the ray is sufficiently powerful to destroy them in the air, to explode powder magazines, and destroy anything on which it rests.” Later experiments were described in the cable news. 11 was reported that the ray scorched objects in its path, and that a mouse was killed at a considerable distance. The reports made a very powerful impression upon the public mind, but have been received with much scepticism by engineers and others of expert qualifications, in the absence of more convincing details.

The reports of the stoppage of French aeroplanes, referred to by the inventor as his inspiration, do not seem to have been confirmed and at present must be regarded as little better than rumours.