BRITISH WAR OFFICE.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13277, 30 November 1911, Page 4

BRITISH WAR OFFICE.

AN UGLY STORY.

A London correspondent states: — From time to time we have heard some very ugly stories concerning tho | treatment meted out to inventors who have submitted their inventions to the British War Office. It is hard indeed for tho average man to beliove thai the responsible heads of a groat de-, partment of State could be guilty of conduct so utterly and contemptibly mean and dishonest, but; during the past few days-an incident Occurred at the W rar Office which suggests that tho unbelievable may bo the truth. The facts of this unsavory incident have been brought to ilie notice of the public by Mr Grindell: Matthews, the inventor of the aeroplane. He had arranged for a demonstration with his invention before ihe heads of the Admiralty and the War Office, and Was given to understand that no experts in electrical apparatus.would be present. Mr. Matthews, with his two assistants, had got everything ready for the demonstration. One instrument was placed in a foora-near one of the main corridors of the AVar Office, and the other in a remote,part of the building. And this is what occurred according to Mr Matthews': —"Everything was in readiness, and I myself had been called downstairs, when one of my assistants came hurrying after mo to tell me that the instrument in the remote part of the building hadi been examined by four men and notes taken in writing. Ofle of these men was found by my assistants to be a wireless telegraph expert. Without a moment's hesitation I said: 'Box up! There will be no demonstration.' " Ho backs up his statement with an affidavit made' by his assistants, Messrs Alavoine and Poncon, whose evidence is as follows: —"Having set up the instruments ready for.tho demonstration, we left the room for a short time, and upon returning found four War Office official with notebooks taking sketches. They appeared to be led by a chief who, from his conversation, appeared to know all about electrical apparatus. I. Poncon, immediately reported what I saw to Mr. Alavoino, who went into the room. I, Alavoine, then requested them to desist until Mr. Matthews arrived, which they did. I then found that the apparatus had been disturbed. I, Alavoine, upon seeing Mr. Matthews, reported what had. occured, and Mr. Matthews said the demonstration would not take place. I told him that one of the gentlemen had said diagrams did not matter, as lie could carry the res* in his head."

Mr. Matthews is, naturally, very much upset and highly indignant over the occurrence. He has been working on his aeroplane for nearly twelve years, and now, at the moment he has won recognition, what looks uncommonly like an attempt to steal the fruits of his ingenuity and labour is made by people connected witn a Government department. Thero may be some explanation forthcoming which will clear the War Office of the charge Mr. Matthews makes, but at first blush the affair has a very ugly look indeed.