VIOLATION CLAIMED

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22682, 9 August 1945, Page 5

VIOLATION CLAIMED

INTERNATIONAL LAW BOMB CALLED ATROCITY WASHINGTON NERVOUS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) / (Received August 9, 1 pjn.) NEW YORK, Aug. 8 Hiroshima was an open city, according to the Tokyo radio. Authorised Tokyo quarters pronounce the Hiroshima bombing as a violation of international law, which forbids belligerents unlimited choice in the means of destruction. The radio quoted the religious leader Toyohika Nagawa, who. contrasted the bohrbing with “ Japan’s careful, thoughtful air raids on Shanghai and Nanking.” Nagawa said the United States methods used against Japan exceeded the horrible cruelty and atrocities perpetrated by Genghis Khan. “ The fact that America has adopted such methods shows that she is already morally defeated. If America’s. policy as well as Japan’s goes back to the spirit of Washington and Lincoln there is sufficient ground for America and Japan to be reconciled, to give freedom to China, liberate the Philippines, cut India’s iron chain and give independence to Indonesia.” Nagawa concluded: “ I think America should stop and think.” The radio added that the ndead in Hiroshima are too numerous to be counted. Device To Test Damage Harry Gewertz, a young Harvard engineer who has been engaged for three years on a seismograph device to test the atomic bomb, five of which were used to gauge the damage and potentialities of the bomb, said the damage in the New Mexico test was five to ten times greater than anticipated. He added that the bomb used in the test was much smaller than the one dropped on Hiroshima. A naval spokesman in Washington pointed out that the bomb will be extremely helpful in cleaning up JapanI ese garrisons in by-passed islands. ; The Navy expects that the atomic j bomb principle will later be extended I to naval shells and rockets. He said t a single shell hit would blast a battleship to fragments. An atomic bomb dropped in the water near a fleet would cause great damage. The New York Sun’s Washington correspondent says President Truman found the capital more apprehensive than jubilant over the bomb’s terrifying success, the impact of which is almost as devastating upon political thought as upon Hiroshima. For 48 hours the new bomb was I virtually the sole topic of conversa- ; tion, and it was an unusual thing to ; see a smile among the throngs crowd- | ing the streets. The entire city is l pervaded by a sense of oppression. ! Many feel they would be happier if the 2,000,000,000 dollar experiment had failed or the knowledge gained , thrown into the river like an unwanted kitten. The War Department issued a statement denying reports that an atomic bombed area would continue for years to react with death-dealing radioactivity. The War Department quoted Dr. Oppenheimer, head of atomic research, as saying there is every reason to believe that there was no appreciable radioactivity on the ground at Hiroshima. What little there was decayed very rapidly. J Dr. Jacobson said: “It should be 1 clearly understood that my connection - with the Manhattan project was in a 1 minor official capacity. My published ; remarks represent my opinions rather than confidential information. I find as the result of later information that eminent qualified scientists connected with the project disagree with some of my opinions. Only Minor Radioactivity “ I am surprised and pleased to learn that the results of the July ex- I periment in New Mexico indicate that only minor amounts of radioactivity are present after the explosion and that these quickly disappear. To my knowledge the manufacture of atomic ; energy in the United States has been skilfully planned, with efficient safety precautions. There is no danger to the project employees.” Russia’s entry into the Pacific war is expected to intensify psychological activity directed at persuading Japan that resistance is now completely futile, says the American Press. Already the Allies are capitalising to the full extent on the atomic bomb

threat. ’ Y„ In NhdMert— and London In the last tew hsen there have been enidlthsi of a new nltluTZt^SJ^L BOW "