Tesla's Peace Manifesto

We conclude in this issue the full text of the specifications of the patent issued to Nikola Tesla last week, and which excited such unusually widespread interest, more especially in military circles. Although Tesla contemplates in the description of his marvelous invention chiefly its uses in peace, its tremendous importance in regard to its powers in warfare did not escape the keen perceptions of our alert army and navy officials.

We think that the numerous press comments did not really bring out with sufficient clearness the revolutionary features of the invention, particularly in regard to the furtherance of the noble cause which the Czar of Russia voices in his stirring peace manifesto. Naturally our heroes are keenly disappointed at the prospect of having no wars, but the every-day citizen will hail with joy the success of Tesla’s humane efforts.

The ability to control with precision, from a distance of a score of miles the movements of a vessel with no soul on board - to call any of its numerous appliances into play, at any desired moment - would of itself be a stupendous achievement. But when this vessel in addition has the power of distinguishing with almost human intelligence the orders which it receives from afar, though silent and invisible - obeying only those for which the builder designed it, and remaining unresponsive to all others - the imagination staggers when following the immediate consequences of such an unheard-of result. Inventions of a startling character have been made before, but most of them have been the result of gradual development. Here the inventor has given us an entirely new and wonderful art. There is something appalling, awe-inspiring in Tesla’s invention.