RACE AGAINST TIME

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24640, 9 August 1945, Page 5

RACE AGAINST TIME

Allied Plans For New Bomb

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 12.30) WASHINGTON, Aug. 8. Brigadier-General Thomas Farrell, aide to Major-General Leslie Groves, who was in charge, of the development of the atomic bomb, has disclosed that the date for dropping the first, bomb was set more than a year ago.' . . British and American scientists thought for a while that they were racing against time with the Germans, who were known to have begun work on a similar bomb last March. Allied bombs destroyed the laboratory at Oranienburg in which German scientists were working on the atomic bomb. , . When they heard about the laboratory, General Marshall and General Arnold sent a.courier from Washington with oral orders to General Spaatz to destroy the building. Brigadier-General Farrell added that the Allies, after entering Germany, learned that the Nazis were years behind the British and American scientists.

Captain William Parsons, who designed the atomic bomb, said he began work in June, 1943, to perfect an explosive that could be carried with comparative safety in a plane for the length of time required to fly from the Marianas to Japan. He explained; “The bomb cannot be controlled like other bombs. It still must be checked and watched to the last minute by the person handling it. Tbis will be true until it is more fully developed. However we could not delay its use for further development, because it was worth too much to end the war.”

Captain Parsons added that, although close to the project, he was in the dark about some phases. He said: “I learned a lot from the 'handout given to correspondents.” The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, in a statement, said an atomic engine for aircraft was a distant possibility. Many years of research and development lay ahead, because the degree of control achieved in the use of atomic fission as a destructive bomb nowhere near ' approached the measure of control necessary ,to convert atomic energy into engine horsepower. Many of the secrets of the bomb are naturally being withheld, including the detonating method. Aviation experts predict that the atomic bomb will dictate a revision of the air logistics as well as defence and security plans. MATERIALS FOR BOMB URANIUM FROM AUSTRALIA (Rec. 7 p.m.) ADELAIDE. Aug. 8. Uranium, one of the major elements used in the manufacture of the atomic bamb, has been mined in South Australia since early in 1944. Mr Churchill asked Mr Curtin for all uranium that could be produced in The sole Australian source was Mount Painter, in an inaccessible part of the Flinders Ranges, 400 miles north of Adelaide. Within six weeks, roads were built, machinery was installed, an aerodrome constructed, and supplies of the metal were being flown out. The project, which was undertaken regardless of cost, was one of Australia’s most guarded war secrets. Although the Australian Government was informed that researches into the release of atomic energy were proceeding, no precise technical information was revealed.