ATOMIC MENACE

Grey River Argus, 13 September 1946, Page 5

ATOMIC MENACE

COMING HOME TO ROOST. NEW YORK, Sept. 11. Colonel Bradley Dewey, addressing th e American Chemical Society at Chicago, read a portion of an atomic report by the Joint Chiefs of Staff which hitherto has ’ been held secret. The main assertion’ in the report is that “national security dictates the adoption of a policy of instant readiness to defend ourselves vigorously against an atomic attack at any time.” The report said that the atomic weapon had not altered the enduring principle that offensive strength is the best defence. Therefore, so long as atomic bombs could conceivably be used against America there must be continued production of atomic material and research development in all fields. Colonel Dewey explained there was no positive defence against nuclear fission, except negative precautions, such as keeping at a safe distance. He pointed out that over an area of several square miles steel and concrete walls would crack and bulge. Colonel Dewey is of the opinion that atomic wars did not necessarily mean the extinction of’ civilisation, but could mean shorter wars and wars less destructive to civilisation. The Federation of Atomic Scientists denied Mr Halsey’s assertion that the scientists responsible for the atom bombing of Hiroshima because they had a toy they wanted to try it out. The decision to use the bomb was made by the joint Chiefs of Staff, in consultation with Mr Truman, and a special board of advisei’s. Scientists entered the picture only as technical advisers to the board'.