Making War Impossible.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 20, 19 May 1909, Page 60

Making War Impossible.

THE joyous prospect that science may make Mar impossible is held out by * French scientist, Dr. Gustave le Boa. He •ays this consummation may be arrived at within 50 years. “ I made a •erics of experiments with M. Branly,” says Dr. )e Bon, “for the purpose of finding out the degree of permeability ef various bodies with regard to Hertzian waves. We found that these waves were able to traverse stone walla more than 3ft thick, whereas they were stopped by a sheet of tin no thicker than a cigarette paper. A fissure no bigger than the hundredth part of a millimetre (1-2500 of an inch) was sufficient, however, for the waves to pierce the sheet. In space these waves are propagated spherically in ail directions. Given these facts, it is conceivable that physicists will succeed in directing these waves, in making them travel on the same plane, and in the same direction. It has already been found that polarised waves move along the same plane. It would be sufficient to direct a sheaf of parallel waves. There would thus be no loss of electric energy. Meeting an obstacle, such as a ship or e powder magazine, these eleetrie radiations would ‘charge’ the whole metallic portion of the object thus met with. The metallic framework would splutter •with the electric .sparks discharged. The network of metallie wires on ships, torpedo boats, etc., would provoke an atmosphere of sparks whieh would cause the magazines or the shells to explode. The Hertzian waves directed in parallel waves would penetrate the arsenals, easements, fortresses, or powder magazines, destroying everything on their passage. This application of Hertzian waves is as yet impossible, for in order to refieet these radiations the length of whose waves varies from 500 to 2000 yards, it would be necessary to employ parabolic mirrors 10,000 yards or more high. If Hertzian waves of less length were utilised, the problem might be resolved more quickly; but these waves would be transmitted on’v a few score yards. But once the discs v> ry of an apparatus for transmitting parallel waves is made, and nar is rendered impossible. The jhy-‘. -t who finds out how to direct paral!.l Hertzian waves will make his discovery known by directing methodically hi- waves on the vessels of a fleet gathered together, let us say, like the Engil-h llt-t . at Spithead, or the German fleet at Kiel. Many millions would be engulfed, some lives sacrificed. but what m formidable power would be revealed io the eyes of the whole world! What sn immense -service would be rendered to peace! I am convinced this is not mere fancy, says Dr. le Bon. Our grandchildren will see its realisation.”