Electric Sparks to Blow Up War Ships

Tesla Figuring on Exploding the Enemy's Magazines by an Air Current.

War without explosives may come eventually if the hopes of Nikola Tesla are realized. Experiments now being made by the famous inventor may prove that an electric spark can be sent miles and miles through the air to lodge in the powder magazine of an ene. my's ship and cause the instant destruction of the vessel.

It is not a new invention Mr. Tesla is working on, rather a perfection of one already found practicable-his oscillator, that marvellous electrical machine with which he was able to transmit messages without wires or artificial conductors of any kind. This instrument, with the aid of powerful machinery, may be able to start a vibratory wave that accumulates force as it progresses and, finally striking the object against which the wave is directed, does so with such a percussion as to set off any explosives it comes in contact with. None of the ammunition in the magazine or an enemy's ship would be safe from this vibratory wave. All that would be necessary to insure the success of Mr. Tesla's operators, should his scheme prove practicable, would be to know the location of the vessel to be destroyed, and the oscillator is to have an appliance for locating it. If this engine of death should be perfected before the end of the present hostilities it would be safer for Spanish war ships to leave their powder at home, for Mr. Tesla intends to offer the use of his invention to the United States.

Mr. Tesla at present refuses to give any details. He merely admits that he is working on the plan.

"I cannot say when my plans will be perfected," said he yesterday. "or whether they will be of any. use in the present war. I wish you would merely say that I am trying to be useful to the United States."