PATTERN OF NEW WAR

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27279, 20 February 1954, Page 7

PATTERN OF NEW WAR

Atom Bombing

Predicted (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 19. A world war, opening with mass atom bombing, which would leave both sides “broken-backed,” was painted in official language in a White Paper which the British Government published last night. The report said that both sides would use atomic weapons, and added that British armed forces were now being supplied with atomic weapons. Guided missiles had reached an advanced stage of development, the White Paper said. The White Paper explained why the Government expected defence to go on costing £1,600,000,000 a year as far ahead as can be seen.

It said that a war of the future would open with each side attempting to break through a radar net and screen, and it visualised jetfighters travelling at 1000 miles an hour and bombers in action at 700 miles an hour.

The report said that the air battles of the future would be fought with guided missiles. Fighters would launch some and others would be launched from the ground. “If by some miscalculation of Communist policy, or by deliberate design, a global war is forced upon it, it must be assumed that atomic weapons would be employed by both sides,” the report said.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip Joubert said that guided missiles would rarely be able to catch an enemy bomber, but when fired from one aircraft to another the missiles would be extremely useful. Guided missiles were still many years away, and there were only a limited number available now In the event of a Russian * attack he thought it would come westward towards Britain, he said.