Discovers Method of Contacting Planets

Dr. Nikola Tesla, 81, Today To Hide His Secret for French Prize.

NEW YORK, July 10 (Universal). — Dr. Nikola Tesla, the scientist, celebrated his eighty-first birthday today with the announcement that he had discovered a method of communicating with other planets.

Dr. Tesla announced his discovery at a luncheon in the Hotel New Yorker tendered by him to officials of his native Jugoslavia and the latter's sister-country, Czechoslovakia. It has been the inventor's custom for several years to save his latest scientific inventions for display at his birthday feast.

As a feature of the program, Dr. Tesla was decorated with the Order of the White Eagle of Jugoslavia, and the Order of the White Lion of Czechoslovakia.

He was not yet ready to reveal the workings of his inter-planetary communication, Dr. Tesla said, as he hopes to save it for entry in a 100,- 000 franc French competition for the first human being to contact another world. It was the result of 75 years of experimenting, he said.

Dr. Tesla, discoverer of alternating current in addition to many other scientific feats credited to him, also revealed that he had invented a new type of vacuum tube which would provide for the cheap production of radium. This, too, he decided to keep secret until the proper time for its complete revelation.

As an added birthday present, the aged scientist described in a sketchy manner a new way he has found of creating a very high vacuum. While not revealing its intricacies. Dr. Tesla said:

"I think that with this new device as much as one billionth of a micron can be attained. In vacuums created in commercial plants, a tenth of a micron is the highest ever attained."