New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-16
The Carabed Peril
A Grave Protest Against Fippant
Comment on the Use Of Free Energy

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: am unable 20 fathom the reasons
for Samuel ". Strauss's ridiculous efFusion
entitled THE Garabed Peril" which YOU
printed this morning.
First. he contemptuously sueers at the in
ventors name-which has nothing 70 do with
the truth of his discovery then he presents
an extraordinarily doleful review Of the wrack
and ruin which will ensue if this "impossi-
BILE contraption" should actually work. "Of
course, it is a fraud and could not succeed
Just such letters were written TO the news
papers when an impossible dreamer Of the
name of Stephenson was building steam
engine in England century ago. They
proved 70 the writers satisfaction. at least
that the blamed thing would not move at
all. and if it did it would kill all its pas
sengers ruin commerce and scatter death
and destruction in general.
In regard to the possibility or otherwise
of free energy" let me advise Mr.. Strauss
to read II. G. Weiss book, THE World Set
Free" which tells Of new source OF power
called atomic energy" This was published
in 1914. Many things that Wells has fore
cast in his earlier romances have come true
already. More remarkable stll-if Giragos-
slams device should succeed-the chief in
yentor of the new energy in the story was
also an Fastener. a Hindu. 1t is reported
that Congress has refused to waste any time
or money in investigating this mans claims.
Granting the improbabiity Of such device,
it would, nevertheless, seem the part Of wis
dom to look into the matter. Should he be
unable to DO anything here with his de-
vice, there is little doubt that Germany
would welcome c. T. X. Giragossian with
open arms II he has not received any prop
osition from representatives Of that coun-
try already. III bet that he viii within d
very short time be offered a generous sum
and transportation, etc. merely to 20 TO
Copenhagen and meet German chemists and
engineers and discuss terms
With the new energy in their hands. Ger
many could either use II to win the war
or she could put Giragossian where he could
not talk, make any peace with the Allie
and then start preparing for the economic
war, with the advantage Of the secret en-
ergy. meanwhile planning for the next war
with the aid of this same free energy" OF
which Mr. Strauss and Congress are so scorn-
ful and contemptuous.
Our countrymen are regarded a, the most
inventive in the world. and so they are; but
owing to the pigheadedness of our authori-
ties, both financial and Official, most in
ventors have 70 take themselves TO Europe
20 get any one 10 look at their devices Wit
ness Wslshaert, perfecter Of the steam loco
motive. He was laughed at here, took his
drawings 10 Germany and vas received po-
litely. Ten years after the Germans took
it up all locomotives in the United States
were being equipped with Walshaert gear.
Think of the submarine the aeropane and
lately the Lewis machine gun, all refused
here because some one was too incredulous
or too indifferent TO investigate the inven-
tors claims
II Garabed T. X. Giragossian really has
anything re will succeed in disposng of il,
whether Congress wants him 70 or not. To
test the matter should not cost more than
few thousand, but they think II Is useless
to even waste" that much. Congressman
are not so careful OF the public funds when
they are raking out pork in million-dollar
hunks.
Congress should be urged 70 reconsider this
action before it is too late
T. G. MITCHELL.
New York, Oct. 10, 1917.