SABOTAGE IN VIENNA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 7 August 1945, Page 5

SABOTAGE IN VIENNA

GIANT MICROSCOPE SMASHED TWO MEN KILLED IN EFFORT TO SAVE London, Aug. 6 A microscope that magnified germs to the size of human beings was smashed as the Russians entered Vienna. The man who smashed it — Professor Join Lange—will be tried as a war criminal. Dr. Horeischy, who was Professor Lange’s assistant, was ki.led in trying to prevent Lange from destroying the instrument. What remained of the instrument after the sabotage was removed by the Russians to an unknown destination. This was a secret electronic microscope with a magnifying power limited only by the strength of current which it was safe to handle. It was the result of 17 years’ research and it took two years to install in the secluded Boltz Manngasse Institute, where special springing insulated it against the vibration of passing traffic. With an average strength of current, tubercle bacilli could be seen behaving and functioning as it they were the size of human be mgs.

Professor Boenisch. of the Institute said: "This microscope had no glass ano no lenses except coils of magnetic wire which concentrated electric rays. Its secret was a mathematical formula by which these wires were arranged We always knew that Lange wanted to smash it rather than let it be captured Horeischy, who was an anti-Nazi. Hoped to prevent him. They watched eaco other every day and then one morning a Partisan of the Austrian Resistance Movement came to warn us tha: the Nazis were about to broadcast a password which meant that all ma?,f le ry in Vienna was to be dismantled. My colleague, Dr. Folmar, rushed with the Partisan to the laboratory. Lange was there. When he saw the Partisan he drew his gun and in the shooting which followed Folmar was wounded.’^ nd Horeischy mortally