New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-02
Sceptical About Italians
"Ultra-Red- Ray Bomb
Explosions.
MANY CALL HIM
ARRANT HUMBUG
Engineers Elopement with Ad-
mirai Fonari's Daughter
Starts Discussion.
[From rhe TrIbune correspondent. !

Milan, July 2i.-With Ulivi, the en-
gineer, inventor of the "ultra-red-ray
method" of firing explosives at a long
distance, n fugitive from justice be-
cause of his fight with Admiral For
nari's daughter, Maria Luisa, dis
cussion is going on as to whether
Ulivi is a great inventor or consum-
mate humbug. The famous M ultra
red rays we're named for Maria. a
warrant has been issued for UlivTs
arrest on the charge Of abduction, as
the young woman is under age.
In scientific circles the inventors at
tainments in mathematics and cleo
tricity arc unquestioned. Some per-
sons excuse his flight as due TO tenn
permanent. Nevertheless, skepticism
about him is almost universal.
Among the skeptics is the well
known seismologist, Padre Guido Al
FAM, who thus explains his feelings:
"My faith in Ulivi was first shaken
when I was admitted 10 his secret
workshop shortly after his bomb cx-
ploding experiments m the River Arno.
I saw at a glance that the short anten-
nae of the poles used by Uliyl were
utterly incapable of transmitting en-
ergy over anything like the ten miles
distance separating him and the Arno'
Under cross-examination ne began 10
show the most extraordinary evaslve-
ness. not TO say untruthfulness. mad
a straight talk with HIM.
Baked at Scientists Test.
pointing out that my reputation as
I A.
this wretched uncertainty | Will myself
prepare a small bomb with nothing in 1T
but ordinary gunpowder. All | ask is
that YOU shall explode this bomb IN my
presence at three yards distance. II
YOU do it | will guarantee you to the
whole world
"JJlivi agreed. but at the fixed mo-
ment failed to keep his appointment.
The scientist, writing to Ullvl, told
him that because OF other facts he must
publicly withdraw his patronage from
him. and that he had also decided 10
advise Admiral Fornaro not to give ms
daughter in marriage to man VINO,
/ having deceived his friends and his
I fatherland. still persisted in his deplor-
/ able bamboozling. !,
! Ulivi is accused Of having introduced
/ chemical substances into his bombs 70
make them explode simultaneously; lie
+ used only those bombs he made nm
/ self II is asserted that he never sue
/ ceeded in exploding bomb unless
II wos immersed in water When the
nolicc forced their way into his work
ehon. il is declared. they found a large
quantity of sodium, which even
schoolboy knows ignites on-contact wltn
I water.
I'm his long experiments, IT
l. asserted. Ulivi would never assist
in nlacing the bombs in the water pc
fore proceeding in motor car TO inc
eno+ where his apparatus was hXed: MS
occusers saw he had not time to 10 ~
10 bored a tiny hole in the outer
iacLet of the bombs, and on the inner
sside there was small quantity OF
cotton wool. -,... -
A we'll known engineer declares IN
Tho "Ciornale dTtalia" that, despite tne
fnrvont nrotestations Of patriotism by
iTIivi the latter entered into contract
v,itb a syndicate in Paris on November
% 1919. ceding to it the exclusive
FIGHTS for the exploitation OF MS IN
yont;on. both military and industrial
for instance. the blowing up OF frontier
harnesses. the discovery OF mineral oe-
nosits and the locating OF shipS ~
distance by means of the ultra req
rays" Mcooolov at
toet fiat IIlivi on his return from Eng
land explained that though ne was
anxious to have newspaper puonclty,
he excused himself from carrying OUT
the tests in the presence Of the Jour
nalists on the pretext that ne was
AFRAID of the inquisitiveness oil the
British authorities.