ATOMIC WAR PRECAUTIONS IN U.S.A.

Grey River Argus, 12 October 1949, Page 5

ATOMIC WAR PRECAUTIONS IN U.S.A.

Navy Campaign Against Air Force Over Policy

(Rec 9.50) WASHING!ON, Oct 10. The U.S. Joint Congressional Atomic Energy Committee io-day decided to hold public hearings next week on plans for civilian defence in the event of an atomic attack on United States.

Senator Brien McMahon, the chairman of the committee, sal 1 that the Russian achievement of an atomic explosion, “Makes it imperative that we get about the business of planning and hurrying up sensible measures of defence.” RUSSIANS AND ATOMIC BOMB

U.S. Navy experts, giving evidence before the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, said that they were certain that the Russians could detect and shoot down the United States Air Force’s big 836 a|om bomb canier. One witness said that the atom bomb itself was not as destructive as people believed. Commander Eugene Totom, Air Ordnance officer said that a man about a mile and a quarter away from an atom bomb burst would not be seriously hurt. He added that although the atom bomb completely devastated its immediate vicinity, its area of destruction was rather limited. He contended that <tcm bombingrequired precision work and saiO that a 836 could not bomb accurately at a height of 40,000 feet when deep in enemy territory. At this height, he said, it would require saturation bombing, Chua resulting in an indiscriminate destruction of civilian population. BIG BOMB CARRIER DERIDED

The committe heard a p; trade of Navy technicians brittle ihe 836 which the Air Force claims can go anywhere. The 836 is currently being spotlighted in the dispute between the Air Force and the Navy over air war theories. The Navy claims that the Sea Air Arm is a vital defence factor that is being whittled back, while a mistaken emphisis is being put on the Air Force’s long-rar je bombing plans. The Defence Secretary, Mr Johnson, said tonight that the present controversy over air strategy could do grave damage to America’s security. He sent a letter to the House Armed Sei vices Committee, asking it to call on ex-President Hocvei ano General Eisenhower and others for their views. .

DEFENCE SECRETARY ATTACKS NAVY HEADS

The U.S. Secretary of Defence, Mr Louis Johnson, to-day accused some of tlie Navy partisans of waging, “A campaign of terror," against the unification of America’s armed forces. Mr Johnson was addressing the annual convention of the American Federation of Labour at St. Paul. He said that his recent cancellation of the construction of the Navy's 60,000-ton super aircraft carrier had been, “twisted into a charge of persecution against the Navy.” Mr Johnson assured the Navy that he and the Joint Chiefs of Staff recognised that there was a continuing me 1 for aircraft carriers, but stated Umt it had been determined that the Navy’s would be to conliol the sea routes. Some of the naval officers and their Congressional supporters, have campaigned to have the aircraft-carriers recognised as majvr instruments in atomic warfare. Mr Johnson declared that it was intended to keep the Marine Corps and the Navy as vital parts of the defence combination, and not “unify” them out of business, us the Navy partisans had claimed. He declared that there was the possibility that the Russians would learn the atomic secret. They had long had figures in defence planning. Mr Johnson said that he was confident that America still had the lead in atomic weapons. He said: “1 am confident that we still hold the lead, not enough of a lead to grow complacent, but enough to be decisive if we continue at our present pace. The implications of the atomic explosion in Russia have been integrated into our security planning, and our Government policies. The possession by the Russians of the knowledge and the means to produce an atomic explosion increases the urgency of an agreement upon a plan for the international control of atomic energy.”