Plans to Counter Soviet’s Atom Bomb, Stated by Gen. Bradley

Grey River Argus, 14 October 1949, Page 5

Plans to Counter Soviet’s Atom Bomb, Stated by Gen. Bradley

(Rec 10.5) NEW YORK, Oct 12

The Russian atomic explosion had occurred sooner than his military high command had expected, but the defence plans were now well under way, said General Omar Bradley, when making a speech at Akron, in Ohio, tonight. General Bradley is the chairman of the United tSates Joint Chiefs of Staff. He said what he termed “Red Atom Day” rpade it necessary that the United States should review its rate of military expenditure, and should choose carefully, the further armaments of defence.”

General Bradley said that the Russian atomic explosion had preceded, by several months, the earliest estimates by the Joint chiefs of staff on when the Russians would have the atomic bomb. He also said that his staff had made estimates of when Russia could have enough atomic bombs "to influence the outcome of modern war.” But he did not disclose that estimate.

“They could be foolhardy enough to launch an atomic attack with only a handful of atomic bombs,’ ’he said, “but of all the people of the earth, they ar e students of force and power in war, and they should understand clearly the disastrous result of such a gruesome error.” General Bradley said that he hoped that the Russians would see the difficulty, and the tremendous expense, of atomic manufacture and would join in the international control of such a weapon. “But military men must realise that we have worked out an orderly timetable of preparations for atomic defence,” said General Bradley. He discussed two alternative plans in war—the first one, if atomic weapons should be used; and the second one if both sides abstained from their use. General Bradley said that,' if th e United States’ plea for the international control of atomic energy was heeded, then any attempt to overrun Europe would first touch the points of Allied bayonets in Germany, “If this becomes the case,” he continued, “then the army must be ready to repel a land assault with sufficient tactical air power to gain and to maintain a local superiority over the Red bombers, and fighters.” General Bradley said that if pleas for the control of atomic energy were not met with an honest agreement .then the blow might strike at the heart of industrial America.” If that is the case,” he said, “we may have to invest our funds in guided missiles, in the necessary radar screen for Canada and the United States and the Arctic, and in necessary fighter interceptor squadrons to dispel any long-range bombardment attack. In either situation, our navy must maintain the control of the seas. It possesses that power today.”