U.S. ATOM BOMB TEST

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26560, 24 October 1951, Page 7

U.S. ATOM BOMB TEST

Speculation On Type Of Nuclear Weapon (N.Z. Prw Association—Copyright) _ NEW YORK, October 22. The United States Atomic Energy Commission has announced that it set off a nuclear explosion at Its Yucca Flat test site, Nevada, this morning. It was not visible from, nor was it felt in, Las Vegas, 75 miles away. The five explosions set off at the commission’s proving ground last winter were all brilliantly visible for hundreds of miles, and an. American Associated Press correspondent states that the absence of any flash to-day would seem to confirm that the commission had developed a smaller nuclear weapon such as a baby atom bomb. An Atomic Energy Commission spokesman said that the shot was made from the top of a 100 ft steel tower similar to the structures used in the original atom bomb blast at Alamagoro, New Mexico, in 1045. and also later at Eniwetok. As far as is known no troops were Involved in the detonation to-day. Approximately 5000 troops, including a 1000-man combat team, are at Camp Desert Rock, near the testing grounds, awaiting participation in the atomic warfare manoeuvres. Four hours after the nuclear explosion an Atomic Energy Commission spokesman said that the experiment was purely a weapon test and was not designed .to test the effects on trooos, animals or structures. The commission in a formal statement said: “An experimental nuclear detonation was conducted to-day and the desired scientific data were obtained. Reports received up to 9 a.m. (three hours after the explosion) from air and ground patrols indicate no radiation hazard in this area.” The United Press correspondent, watching from Charleston Peak, less than SO miles awav and 5000 ft above the test, looked down directly into the explosion site. He reported that a low nimble bounced along the mountain peaks five minutes after a small wall of flame, “similar to an exploding napalm fire bomb.” rent the test area and shot up a funnelshaoed white cloud. > The cloud climbed onlv 7000 ft before it dissipated in 15 minutes. There was speculation caused by the smallness of to-day’s explosion that the commission had developed an atomic weapon the size of a hand vrennde, bift this is entirely unconOne correspondent said that the limited nature of the explosion indicated that the scientists had learned how to metsure out fissionable material for use in atomic tests.