A WEAPON THAT WILL ABOLISH WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 109, 5 June 1909, Page 3

A WEAPON THAT WILL ABOLISH WAR.

TELLING THE SECRETS OF A HOST .MYSTERIOUS INVENTION. While the nations are building Dread--uoughts against each other, the scientists have been busy discovering other .venpoiis for the warfare of the future. Killes and swords ure mere toys compared with the weapons tint '[J Perfecting. Quite recently a I " savant made a series ol remarkable, experiments with what arc kuown a» 'Hertzian waves." Without going too deeply into ihc .subject, it may be snilicient to expla'ii that "Hertzian waves" are .-o called After lleinrich Hertz, w.lio foundby experimenting, about the year ISBS, (ha it was possible to control to a large extent the magnetic currents in the air. WILL I'IERCK STONE WALLS. The "waves" move along very much like a corkscrew, and although for a moment scientists are not able to control tlx steer them in any given lirection, there s'oeius little doubt that -his feat will be only a question of a iew years.

The effect of the ''Hertzian waves" nav ilte judged when it i* stated. u>: the .•cs'ult of the recent experiments in France, that they will pierce stone walls lilee feet thick. For practical purposes the "waves ire spiralis of moving, invisible llame. Already there is a theory by which it is jelieved the power of directing and con-a-olling this invisible fire may be ac(Uircd, and in the face of this new force „he armies and navies of the world <\vin jc itelplcsH, Two or three men, sitting at their instruments, could direct a group of waves" through the air towards an advancing tleet that threatened thenshores. The, '-waves" would strike the hips and run along the metal portions if tiicm as a lhune runs' along a stream if inflammable spirit.

And all the while the ship would be jiving off electric sparks, just as is done ''a the simpler experiments with all electric battery. In a few seconds the ships | would be alive with sparks. All the [shells on board would explode, and the powder magazines, drenched in a s'hower of tire which no skill could divert, would oe tired, and blow the biggest ship to fragment, -s in less than a minute. And not only on sea, but oil land ,'Ould these destructive "waves" be employed. with the most devastating effect. In'everv fort -where powder was stored ,Lhe danger from a series of "Hertzian \vaves" would be alinays imminent.

'At the will of the operator the "waves'" would be directed forward. They would pierce the walls of the strongest fortress, wrecking everything in their passage, men. horses, and guns, and leave behind them nothing but' .Oiaired and smouldering ruin.

The soldiers against whom such a terrible means of attack happened to be employed could not lift a hand to save themselves. The unseen "waves" would advance with a spiral roll through the air, as invisible as the linger of death itself, and just as invincible.

' The outposts and sentries would not have time to give the alarm, for as the "waves" passed them they would twist guns and s'worils into shapeless things, and any soldier remaining conscious would scarcely have realised his position before he heard the explosion anil shrieks that would tell of the crumpling up of a mighty army like a piece of use. less paper.

The first scientist to discover liow "Hertzian waves" may lie propelled and guided over a distance of ten miles will hold the peace of the world in his ,hands. XAY I ICS CAXXOT PUT TO SEA. Xo nation would put nil army in the field if it were satisfied that its men would be annihilated by tile unseen forces of nature without the chance of striking a blow in self-defence. Xo navy would put to sea knowing that at any moment the dread, invisible •waves" might scatter it like chaff before the wind.

Even if more than one nation .should make the forthcoming discovery at the same time, the chances of a, warlike contest will be equally remote. The earliest intimation of the enemy's l presence will lie the thunder announcing annihilation, and such o chance is 100 great for any but a nation of madmen to undertake.

The outcome of such a momentous discovery must be—peace.—tHonie paper.