U.S. ATOMIC WEAPONS
New Types Being Developed STATEMENT BY MR JOHNSON
(Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 22.
The United States Secretary of Defence (Mr Louis Johnson) disclosed to-night that American scientists were developing new and more powerful atomic weapons. “New atomic weapons which may have the highest military significance and unsurpass in destructive power any arms previously known, are being developed for tactical and strategic use.” said Mr Johnson, The United States’ atomic arsenal no longer contained only a small number of bombs of a single type. Important research was continuing in both offensive and defensive aspects of gas and germ warfare, Mr Johnson continued. The potentialities were very great in germ warfare, but in its present state of development it did not compare with the atomic bomb as a means of mass destruction. Defence measures now in effect or in preparation against germ warfare should prevent disastrous damage in the United States. The armed services’ strength at the end of 1949 was 1,551,000 officers and men, a decrease of 6-5,000 in six months. The Air Force and the Navy had 36.000 aircraft. -2000 of which were jet powered. There were 11,000 fighters. The number of new aircraft on order on December 31, 1949, was 5400.
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Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26095, 24 April 1950, Page 7
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206U.S. ATOMIC WEAPONS Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26095, 24 April 1950, Page 7
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