THE DEATH RAY
Lhe Editor, "The Listener." Sir,-The article in a recent Listener, "Is There a Death Ray?" gives food for thought. Although men of science in many parts of the globe are experimenting with what is termed a death ray, so far this possibility, a ray which will destroy battleships, aircraft and cities, exists only in the mind of man, mostly writers of fiction, But science is divided on the question. One school of thought maintains that it is impossible to evolve such a ray, while others believe that it is well within the realms of possibility. Also there is no mystery regarding the possibility of such a ray. The question is whether it is possible to use the oscillations of ultra-short radio waves to administer destruction from afar. It is contended that these waves increase the vibration to such an extent that the ignition system of a motor, tank, or ship, is disrupted to such a degree as to render it useless. In reference to animals and human beings, according to modern physics, this increase of vibration
causes the individual molecules in the body to ex+ plode. No nation has yet perfected the so-called death tay, but every nation is experimenting in that direction. Also the " perfect military secret," the property of one nation alone, has yet to be evolved. The death ray, should it ever come, will be the coyp de grace administered by war to humanity. Yours, etc.,
HARRY
WOODRUFFE
Auckland, March 17, 1940,
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 43, 19 April 1940, Page 10
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248THE DEATH RAY New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 43, 19 April 1940, Page 10
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