TERRIBLE MISSILE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 212, 7 August 1945, Page 5

TERRIBLE MISSILE

ATOMIC BOMB IN USE DEVASTATION FOR JAPAN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 10.55 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 6. An atomic bomb more powerful than 20,000 tons of T.N.T, and producing a blast 2000 times greater than the largest bomb previously used was dropped today on Hiroshima by the United States Army Air Force. Hitherto on the secret list, the existence of this . terrifically destructive bomb was revealed by President Truman in a statement from the White House. The Secretary for War (Mr Stimson) predicted that the bomb would prove a tremendous aid in shortening the war against Japan. “The ultimatum from Potsdam issued on July 26 was intended to spare the Japanese people from utter destruction,” President Truman said, “but the Japanese leaders rejected it, so the atomic bomb is the Allied answer. The Japanese may now expect a rain of ruin from the air the like of which has never been seen on the earth. “Tlie Germans "worked feverishly, searching' for a way to use atomic energy, but they failed. In the meantime British and American scientists studied the problem and developed two principal plants and lesser factories for the production of atomic power. We spent 2,000,000,000 dollars on the greatest scientific gamble in history and we won. “The atomic bomb harnesses the basic power of the universe; the force from which the sun draws, its power has been loosed against those wh o brought war to the Far East. We are now prepared completely to obliterate more rapidly every productive enterprise the Japanese have above the ground in any city. We shall completely destroy the Japanese power to make war.”

The base hit with the first bomb was an important quartermaster’s depot with a large ordnance, machine tool and aircraft plants. The city had a population of 318,000. Hiroshima was also an important port. President Truman forecast that sea and land forces will follow up this attack in such numbers and power as the Japanese have never witnessed. “This discovery,” said President Truman, “may open the way for an entirely new concept of force and power. The actual harnessing of atomic energy may in future supplement the power that now comes from coal and oil. It never has been the habit of scientists nor of this Government to withhold scientific knowledge. Normally everything about atomic energy would be published, but that must wait until the war emergency is over. The atomic bomb has more than 2000 times the blast power of the British ‘grand slam’ (22,0001 b bomb), which hitherto was the largest used. “The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbour. They have been repaid manyfold and the end is not yet. With this bomb we have added a new and revolutionary increase in destruction to supplement the growing power of our armed forces. The bombs are now in production and even more powerful forms are in development. GERMAN ANXIETY.

genius and inspiration were largely responsible for the development of the bomb. Atomic energy would have-a big place in peacetime industry. Already much energy was being released unexplosively, but in regulated amounts. This energy, however, was in the form of heat at a temperature too low to make practicable the operation of a conventional power plant. It would bo ii matter of much further research and development to design machines for the conversion of atomic energy into useful power. When it was decided that work on the bomb should he concentrated in the United States British scientists who were working on the problem were transferred to America in 1943. Since then they had participated in the project’s development. In addition, one of Denmark's greatest scientists, Dr. Neils Bohr, was whisked from the grasp of the Nazis in Denmark and later helped the bomb’s development. A London message says that when plans were made for the use of this atomic bomb Mr Churchill prepared a statement on its production. This has now been issued by Mr Attlee. Research began in Britain in 1939 and by the summer of 1941 Britain’s most brilliant brains announced that there was a reasonable chance of producing an atomic bomb before the end of the war. The Chiefs of Staff immediately ordered full concentration on the project. Mr Churchill described the bomb as “this terrible means of maintaining the rule of law ,in the world.” Another statement issued in Washington says the research was carried out in a huge reservation in Tennessee, where the workers were pledged not to leave the area. Aircraft, day and night, patrolled the reserve with strict orders to prevent any other planes from flying overhead, even by shooting them down.

“By 1943 the Germans were feverishly working to discover a way to use atomic energy, with which they hoped to enslave the world, but they failed. We may be grateful to Providence that the Germans produced the VI and V2 too late and even more grateful that they did not get the atomic bomb.

“The battle of tho laboratories held fateful risks for us, as well as the battles of air, land and sea. Wo have now won the battle ol tho laboratories as ' well as the other battles.

“At the beginning of 1940 scientific knowledge useful in the war was pooled between Britain and America and much priceless help to our victories came from that arrangement. Glider it tho general policy of research on tho atomic bomb was begun with British and American scientists working together. We entered the race of discovery against the Germans. The Uriited States had available a largo number of distinguished scientists in many needed areas ol knowledge, as well as the tremendous industrial and financial resources necessary for the project which could bo devoted to it without impairment of other vital war work. In the united States laboratory work and production plants were out of reach ol enemy bombing, while at that time Britain was exposed to constant air attacks and still threatened with invasion. r y-,i 1 11 “For these reasons, Mr Ghurclnn and tho late President Roosevelt agreed that it was wise to carry on the project here. We now have two groat plants and many lesser works for tho production of the atomicpower Employees during the peak numbered 125,000. Many of those employees have been working for 30 months, few knowing what they were producing.

No human eye sees what goes, on in the production of tho bomb. The operations are performed in remote cells and the missile moves on unseen from cell to cell. . When the first experimental bomb was dropped from a high steel tower the tower was entirely vapourised and a huge crater was left. A mountain range three miles away was brightly illuminated and men 10,000 yards from tho explosion were struck down by the blast. A multi-coloured cloud ascended to 20,000 feet. FOUR CITIES ATTACKED.

More than 580 Super-Fortresses last night attacked NishinonnyaMiknge, Imbari, Saga and Maebislii cities with 3850 tons of incendiaries and explosives, says a Press Association message. The cities are among those warned. Super-Fortresses also attacked Truk. The Tokio radio says about 130 Super-Fortresses last night dropped incendiaries in the South Gumma prefecture, 75 miles north-west of Tokio and caused some damage to Maebasln city. The raiders were over the target for two hours. Despite boisterous weather which grounded the rest of General J\cnney s planes oil Okinawa, two squadrons of Mitchells dared the elements and struck a sharp blow at J akanaho, an important production centre for alcohol and motor fuel. . Employing tactics learned in the battles against the weather fronts in New Guinea and the Philippines, tho Mitchells skimmed over huge breaking waves in the tail of one of the typhoons which harry the Japanese coast. They made a shambles of the factories, blowup warehouses, and put the railway yards at least temporarily out of commission without opposition either from fighters or anti-aircraft guns. The pilots started six or eight large fires.

QUICK SUCCESS. “Both science and industry worked under the direction of the United States armVj achieving unique success in an amazingly short time. “What has been done is the greatest achievement of organised science in history. The bombs were developed in factories in Tennessee, Yi ashington and New Mexico. “Tho fact that we can release atomic energy ushers in a now era in maii’s understanding of Natures forces. Atomic energy may supplement the power now coming from coal, oil and falling water. I'or plentiful production on a competitive basis commercially a long period of intensive research is

necessary. . . “In the present circumstances it is not intended to divulge the technical processes for production or all tne military applications pending further examination of possible methods ol protecting us and the rest-of the world from the danger of sudden destruction. I will recommend that Congress establish an appropriate commission to control the production and use of atomic power within the United States.” . Mr Stimson said impenetrable cloud, dust and smoke cloaked Hiroshima after tho dropping of the

atomic bomb. Uranium ore was essential in the bomb’s production. Tlie bomb s cxplosive power staggered the ima mation; nevertheless, scientists vere con fident that even more powerful atomic bombs would be produced. fie was convinced that Japan would not be in a position to use a similar weapon. Mr Stimson added that a labora o to deal with the techmcal problems was established near Santa. Te, ed by Dr. 11. Oppcnhemier, vhose