USE OF A-BOMB DEFENDED

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27132, 31 August 1953, Page 13

USE OF A-BOMB DEFENDED

‘MUST ABOLISH WAR, NOT WEAPONS”

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, August 27.

The use of the atom bomb in warfare was defended by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Slessor, former Chief of the Air Staff, when addressing an international youth conference at Edinburgh.

Commenting upon recent pronouncements from Supreme Headquarters, Allied Forces in Europe, on the defence of Europe, Sir John Slessor said he thought that many generals tended to ignore or under-rate the influence of the terrible power of the atom bomber forces of the United States and Britain.

“It is ludicrous to imagine that Russian divisions will roll across to the Rhine and the Channel a? if they were on a field day, even against inferior opposition, with an atomic deluge descending on their cities and communications,” he said.

“Why do you • suppose the slogan ‘Ban the Atom Bomb’ was scrawled on walls by the half-witted dupes of Russian communism? “If the world disarmed down to rifles and bayonets, the side with the vast masses of docile, disciplined manpower would win.” The nations had to abolish war, not any particular weapon. Sir John Slessor added: “Do not let us imagine that because we strike a patch of what looks like easy going we have reached the summit towards which we have been climbing in these last three years. “Do not let us sit back and relax, or a bitter wind will rise and blast us.” The object of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was not like Everest where, having reached the summit, they could plant a few flags and come down again.