AREA OF DEATH

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 267, 9 August 1945, Page 7

AREA OF DEATH

Years-long Effect

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received August 8, 9.50 p.m.)

NEW YORK, August 7.

Perhaps the most fantastic and terrible angle of the atomic bomb was revealed today by an American scientist, Dr. Harold Jacobsen, who spent two years working on its construction. He said: Any area struck by the bomb will remain saturated with’ death for any human beings who enter it for many years to come. “The scientific reason for this is that the terrific explosion eradicates every piece of matter in the area, and that secondary {eradication will kill anyone who enters the area.

“In other words, everything in the affected area is now dead, and any Japanese who go into investigate the damage will die.” Brigadier-General Thomas Farrell, aide to Major-General Leslie Groves, who is in charge of atomic bomb development, disclosed that the date for dropping the first bomb was set well over a year ago. The British and American scientists thought for a while that they were racing against time with the Germans, who Were known to have begun work on a similar bomb. Allied bombs hist March destroyed a laboratory at Oranienburg 'in which the German scientists were working ou the atomic bomb. When they heard about the laboratory Generals Marshall and Arnold sent a courier from Washington with oral orders to General Spaatz to destroy the building. General Farrell added that the Allies after entering Germany learned that the Nazis were years behind the British and American scientists. Difficult Air Task.

Captain Parsons, who designed the atomic bomb, said he began work iu June, 1943, to perfect an explosive that could be carried in comparative safety in a plane for the length of time required to fly from Mariannes to Japan. 'He explained : “The bomb cannot be controlled like other bombs. It still must be checked and patted to the last minute by the weaponeer. This will be true till it is more fully developed. However, we could not delay its use for further development, because it is worth too much to end the war.” He added that though he was close to the project he was in the dark about some of the phases, and said: “I have learned a lot from the handout given to correspondents.”