Atom Danger To Empire

Northern Advocate, 6 March 1947, Page 6

Atom Danger To Empire

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 5. Captain Cyril Falls. Professor of History of War at Oxford, broadcasting on the military significance of the atom bomb, said that in the atomic age the British Commonwealth, with its security so dependent cn communications, appeared to be in worse danger than other nations. The United Kingdom, if isolated, faced the greatest peril ,of all. The atomic bomb ended military isolation of areas formerly beyond reach of attack and linked the United States inevitably with the fortunes of the Old World. The bomb also increased the importance of the time factor, at the start | of a war. Risks of mobilisation and moving forces to battle stations were greater than ever before. Sea transport was subject to manj risks and the Mediterranean might be barred to shipping. A defensive attitude was never more hopeless than in present conditions. The aim in tactics would probably be towards small fast-moving formations and units. The principles seemed to be small concentrations with speed, elasticity and every conceivable camouflage device. The best defence against the atomic bomb vyas ability to retaliate in kind, backed up by traditional armed forces. The theory that the atomic bomb made all armed forces useless was absurd.