Nikola Tesla FBI Files - Page 71

NY 65-12290

        TESLA's only military invention was a method to which he once eluded but never fully described. This invention was a means whereby an impenetrable "wall of force" can be erected around the United States' borders which would render helpless any military attack. TESLA disclosed the existence of his plan in 1934 and stated he intended to present it to the Geneva Conference but seldom referred to it afterward.

        The "New York Times" dated 9/22/40, carried an article setting forth NIKOLA TESLA's plan for a "Death Ray". This article included information to the effect that TESLA, on his 84th birthday, July 10, 1940, advised New York Times reporter WILLIAM A. LAWRENCE that he was ready to divulge to the United States Government the secret of his "teleforce", with which he said airplane motors would be melted at a distance of 250 miles so that an invisible Chinese wall of defense would be built around the country against any attempted attack by an enemy airforce no matter how large. According to TESLA, this "teleforce" was based on an entirely new principle of Physics that "no one has ever dreamed about" and was different from the principle embodied in his inventions relating to the transmission of electrical power from a distance, for which he received a number of basic patents.

        TESLA stated that this new type of force would operate through a beam one hundredth millionth of a square centimeter in diameter and could be generated from a special plant that would cost no more than two million dollars and would take only about three months to construct. TESLA stated that a dozen such plants located at strategic points along the coast, according to TESLA, would be enough to defend the United States against all possible aerial attacks. TESLA stated that this beam would melt any engine and would also ignite explosives aboard any bomber. TESLA stated that no possible defense against it could be devised and he asserted that the beam would be all penetrating.