Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 153, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1918 — BLASTS KAISER’S HOPE OF VICTORY [ARTICLE]

BLASTS KAISER’S HOPE OF VICTORY

Italian Invents Canned Lightning Capable of Destroying Trenches of Enemy. TERRIBLE ENGINE OF DEATH Claimed Invention Could End War In Thirty Days and Allies Could March Unchallenged Into Berlin. Tests Prove Its Value. Rome.—The kaiser’s dream of victory and world supremacy may be blasted out by “canned lightning,” a terrible death engine invented by an Italian scientist Dazzling swords of lire, more deadly than are highest explosives, followed by annihilating explosions, are capable of destroying enemy trenches with one blinding flash, according to his claims. Mine sweepers equipped with this device could fire mines thousands of yards distant. On the land, “canned lightning” could be used to form a most successful barrage and could wipe out the defenders of German trenches with unerring certainty. The scientist is credited with having discovered a means of concentrating and reflecting electric rays in such a manner as to produce the results described. It is reported that this inventor has proved to representatives of his government that electric current can be concentrated and directed In rays. Tests Held on Banks of Tiber. In describing the results of these tests, held on the banks of the historic Tiber, F. H. Randall, writing in the Illustrated World, says that the scientist was asked to burn through a three-inch plank Of hardwood. In an Instant, the writer says, the plank was seared and broken as if it had been broken by lightning. Officials then asked the scientist to explode two bombs, one hidden along the bank of the river and the other In the bed of the stream. Within ten minutes the bomb along the bank exploded. It required a much longer time to explode the other bomb, but this, too, was finally accomplished. The entire outfit used by the Inventor was placed on a single small barge. An approximate idea of the power of the arcing electricity may be obtained by watching an electric furnace at work. It will cut the hardest steel like putty. To flash such a flame through an aeroplane, submarine, battleship or a trench would leave a total wreck. Mines placed in the North sea by the Germans could be eliminated, and mine sweepers could destroy all of these hidden terrors of the sea located within thousands of yards of the ship. In a graphic description, Mr. Rand-

all paints a picture of what would happen with this machine In action. Every enemy airplane or any fleet of them would fall to earth, a crumpled wreck. At the touch of a button, a bolt of electricity would suddenly shoot forward with Incredible speed. A few scarred parts would be all that was left of what had been a soaring airplane a few minutes before. A scout could lurk with bls deadly weapons, connected with the generat9rs and concentrators behind the lines, in shell holes or craters In “no man’s land.” When charged he could sweep line as it passed, annihilating each successive wave of advancing Germans. Mr. Randall says that he can’t say that this has been done or will be done, but he don’t dare to suggest that it cannot be accomplished. Light, heat and rays of other kind can be reflected. He concludes by saying: « “Once this problem Is solved there will be no war. If the allies were possessed of equipment that would permit the arcing at a distance of powerful electric currents, the war would be won in 30 days and allied troops would be marching unchallenged into Berlin.”