PRIEST’S INVENTION

Evening Star, Issue 19760, 10 January 1928, Page 8

PRIEST’S INVENTION

HEW EXPLOSIVE FOUND A German priest who claims to have perfected an explosive far superior to dynamite held spellbound an audience consisting principally of eminent scientists while he lectured in New York on the principles and merits of his new explosive. He is the Rev. Johann Julius Braun, a Catholic parish priest in the town of Marbach, mir Fulda, Germany. Father Braun has already taken out twentv-onc patents for his explosive, and in his lecture he explained that he first began experimenting during the war, when every scientist was endeavorinf'' to find a more deadly weapon. Tie continued his work after the war, and was twice severely injured before he was able to perfect his experiments. Father Braun, who explained that his invention was based on the principle of liquid air used as a coating to finelyseparated organic bodies, added that bis explosive was harmless until it was treated in a secret way, which could be performed in a few minutes. This, he emphasised, was of vital importance to arsenals and ammunition dumps which would be subject to attack from aircraft in the next war. “Experiments which have been conducted in Germany,” he said, “have proved the value of this type of explosive, and I have already received large sums of money for it frqm German coal owners, who recognise its advantages in blasting operations.” Father Braun has applied for another patent at Washington for an invention providing a substitute for the parachute. , . . . , When an aeroplane is in danger, lie explained, the pilot or passenger has inerelv to press a button and compressed air hurls him from the machine. ‘ . „ , Once clear, the air pressure inflates a lew type of -flying suit which is filled vith a non-explosive gas, and the airnan floats quietly to earth. Father Braun ha? given all the royalties he has received for his invention to Catholic charities in Germany.