BRITISH ATOM WEAPON

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26857, 9 October 1952, Page 9

BRITISH ATOM WEAPON

“Experiment A Great Success” SYDNEY, October 8. The combined Royal and Australian Navy fleet which covered the atomic explosion at the Montebello Islands last Friday has now dispersed. The movements of the Royal Navy ships are not known, but the main body of the Australian Fleet, headed by the aircraft-carrier H.M.A.S. Sydney, is expected at 'Fremantle soon. A Canadian scientist. Dr. O. M. Solandt, who accompanied Dr. W. G. Penney to Australia, is now in Perth. He said that the experiment was a great success, and he was most impressed with the support given by Australia.

He explained that he saw the explosion as a working scientist, not as an official observer for the Canadian Government, but that naturally he would furnish the Canadian Government with a report on his observations. Brandishing a nulla nulla (a type.of aboriginal waj* club) and spear, he laughingly said: “These will be the weapons of the war after next.” Dr. Solandt. with the Australians, Professor L. H. Martin and Mr W. A. S. Butement, who also saw the explosion, was taken from the Montebellos to Onslow yesterday aboard the Frigade Hawkesbury, and he flew from there to Perth. Two Royal Air Force Hastings transports are standing by at Onslow to take the British scientists back to London.