STORE OF ATOMIC WEAPONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1950, Page 5

STORE OF ATOMIC WEAPONS

WASHINGTON, January 31 (Rec. 1.10 p.m.).—The United States was producing, improving and storing atomic weapons at an ever-growing rate, the United States Atomic Energy Commission stated today in its seventh report to Congress. The commission said it had joined with the British and South African Governments in research on the extraction of uranium from South African gold ores. There were under way technical discussions on this problem, which might lead to substantial uranium production from gold ores. The Hydrogen Bomb The commission said it was studying how three different forms of hydrogen could be used to produce atomic energy on a laboratory scale, but it made no specific reference to any plans to develop the hydrogen bomb. The commission said the production of weapons had been changed from a “custom built” operation to “an industrial type of operation” for faster and more efficient production. It said

the output of fissionable materials had set a new record. The revelation of Russian achievement in the atomic field emphasised the importance of the most, efficient possible utilisation of the resources available for the nation’s atomic energy programme. The maintenance of the American position required a vigorous, growing programme of basic and applied research in nuclear science and engineering. The commission said it felt the nation’s atomic enterprises were on a sound footing.

Study Of Reactions It revealed that its scientists were using television projectors, receivers and remote control instruments at its Los Almos (New Mexico) bomb assembly laboratories to study reactions at distances of one-fifth of a mile. It had begun research into the use of atomic power for propelling ships, submarines and aircraft.

The commission added that a landbased prototype of a thermal reactor suitable for ship and submarine propulsion would be in the design stage soon. The marine reactor was being developed and designed to .produce large amounts of heat under conditions that would permit the conversion to power for naval vessels. Research and development work were well advanced. The reactor for use in aircraft was still in the early research .stage.