The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-17
PROPERTIES OF.
DEADLY RAY
REVEALED
Michael Pupin Says HeraIded
British Invention Long
Known to Scientists.

NuOWn 10 0CI0HIIShSs
BY HELEN FOX.
copyright, 1924: BY Cosmopolitan News
NEW. YORK, April IT,. The
0O-called destructive ray. with which
q British inventor is attempting to
ConfOund the Il world, has been
known for thirty-seven years, Prof.
Michael ]. Pupin explained today.
Prof. Pupin is one Of the foremost
authorities in the world on electro
mechanics and a professor at Co
lumbia university.
According to Prof. Pupin there
is nothing especially new about the
invention Of III. endell-MattheWs
that has just been heralded across
the seas as being able to send air.
planes crashing to the ground In
flames, NOW down armies, put ma
chine guns out OF action explode
magazines and ammunition dumps
and put automobiles out Of service
all from long distance from the
scene OF action"
'"The properties Of the ultraviolet
ray-or the invisible ray-have been
known for thirty-seven years., Prof.
pupin said. ut is exaggerat1ng to
call 1t destructive ray When
focused upon an airplane, do not
believe that it can set it on fire.
But it is possible for it to stop the
spark plug from working. And
when that stopS-why, your ma
chine is out of business, isn't it?"
Prof. PuPin said no scientific
statement is really possible since
the description of the English in
vention was not specific.
Suggests Publicity.
''You see, it is very difficult to
comment on this reported invention
other, than by making hypothesis
as to how it really functions" Prof.
Pupin said. IL would suggest that
the inventor publish his discovery
in a scientific paper. Then other
scientists could weigh his facts with
q certain degree Of accuracy.
However, it seems to me that
the whole invention is just matter
Of deranging the spark plug OF an
airplane or automobile means OF an
ultraviolet or invisible ray. There
are more invisible rays than there
are visible ones. We see few rays
no more than we need to. There
are an enormous number Of other
rays that we can't see. We see just
enough to find our way around.
''Now, the inventor is using one
OF the ultraviolet or invisible rays.
The ray itself cannot directly de-
stroy an airplane or an automobile.
But 1t can stop the spark plug
from sparkling.
Destroys Insulation.
1.-THE theory Of the spark plug is,
Of course, that the accommodating
electrical tension between the two
terminals causes the spark. The
small amount of air between the
terminals Is insulated. The ultra,
violet ray focused upon the spark
plug makes the air between the
knobs conducting, thereby destroy
ing the insulation and preventing
the development of the tension that
causes the spark.
'.And-if you can't make sparks
In an engine-your engine and your
machine is out Of business. II the
spark plug is in an airplane, the
In motorcycle, the rider, at the
sudden halting Of the engine, may
be thrown from the cycle and
killed"
"That is the manner in which I
see it as destructive force.
Through the arresting Of the action
Of the spark plug it can do much
damage. But directly it cannot, as
see 1t, NOV down armies
"Why has this invention or dis
cOvery not been effected before?
That is easy to answer. For long
time things along that line have
been talked of and even done. How.
ever, most scientists are interested
in constructive rather than de-
structive science. Most everybody
= 1e trying to do the useful thing:
We are trying to improve the spark
plug and not to stop. it from work
ing altogether. Constructive minds
plug we would not have auto
mobiles, aifplanes, or anything else
run by gas engine"
= Talking of the effect Of the III
vention of modern warfare. Pref
Pupin said that it would make i'm.
possible the use of all machines
mum by gasoline engines. The next
war will either be horribly destruc.
tive-or will resemble warfare Of
the middle ages when the gas en-
CINE was unknown.
Back to Club Warfare.
"Warfare?" Prof. Pupin repeated
the question. "Well, If the invention
a really feasible-and I cannot be
sure that it is until I have seen
q more scientific explanation of it,
II would be impossible to use the
gas engine in the conduct Of war
Consider that and see what il
means. No automobiles, no tractors
no airplanes, no anything-except
battleships, which the inventor
thinks will be invulnerable, because
he says, that 1t is completely sur
rounded by metal which is earthed
IN the sea, and could not be reached
by the ray. "
Therefore, II the next war en-
a.-....-..- .