USE OF ATOMIC WEAPONS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27112, 7 August 1953, Page 6

USE OF ATOMIC WEAPONS

STUDY BY SERVICE CHIEFS

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 4.

Service chiefs and scientists, together with high-ranking officers from the Commonwealth countries, would attend “Exercise Forward On,” to study the use of atomic weapons, the War Office announced today. The exercise will be conducted by Field-Marshal Sir John Harding, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, at the Staff College, Camberley, this month. New Zealand will be represented by Major-General G. W. Gentry, Chief o f the General Staff of the New Zealand Army.

A War Office spokesman said tonight that he was not authorised to state u hether any atomic weapons would be exploded, or the special type of weapons to be studied. “Obviously, it would not be possible to have test explosions in the college grounds, but Salisbury Plain, for instance, could be used.” he said. Scientists in the exercise will include Sir John Cockcro.t, Director of the Atomic Research and chairman of the Defence Ministry’s Research Policy Committee, Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Morgan, Controller of Atomic Energy, and Mr S. S. Mitchell. Controller of Guided Weapons and Electronics, both of the Ministry of Supply. General Gruenther. the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, Field-Mar-shai Lord Montgomery, the DeputySupreme Allied Commander in Europe, and staff officers from S.H.A.P.E. have been invited to attend. Other invitations have been sent to Field-Marshal Earl Alexander of Tunis, the Minister of Defence, Vice-Admiral J. A. S. Eccles, Flag Officer Air (Home), reoresenting the First Sea Lord, and Mr A. H. Head, the Secretary of State for War.