TOO SCIENTIFIC

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22690, 18 August 1945, Page 5

TOO SCIENTIFIC

WARFARE DEVELOPMENTS TERRIBLE NEW WEAPONS WHOLE WORLD IN RANGE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Aug. 18, 1 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 General H. H. Arnold disclosed that the United States air forces have a new plane considerably better than the Super-Fortress and capable of ranging over East Asia from Western Pacific bases. General Arnold prophesied that the development of the atomic bomb and better V bombs and long-range planes would make war too scientific. The time was coming when there would not be any crews in bombers. Guided missiles would obtain from jet devices speeds making it difficult to shoot them down. Defensive weapons must be equally efficient. The United States must have bases 'in the Pacific to enable it to use the weapons in such a manner that it would not have to worry about direction. The same rules applied in the Atlantic. General Arnold specified bases in the Marshalls, Marianas, and Okinawa. General Arnold disclosed that the air forces already had in the experimental stages rocket-bombs which were attracted to the target in a reaction to heat, to light and to metal. A year ago the air forces were guiding bombs by television from a plane 15 miles away. General Arnold predicted the following new weapons: First, manned speeds faster than sound; aerial combat as we know it will disappear. Secondly, guided missiles capable of making exact hits on targets miles square or less in any part of the world. Thirdly, 'more powerful atomic bombs, destructive beyond the wildest imagination. Fourthly, new defence weapons such as a target seeking rocket, which will automatically strike and destroy supersonic planes or guided missiles. EXPLOSION IN OSLO 68 KILLED, HUNDREDS INJURED AMMUNITION STORE BLOWS UP (Received August 18, 1 p.m.) OSLO, Aug. 17 At least 58 were killed and many hundreds injured when an ammunition store in the dock area blew up at noon today. German labourers were unloading small arms and 38 m.m. explosives from a train to a barge when some exploded. Those killed comprised 43 Germans and 15 Norwegian guards. Many British and American military personnel were injured. The quay was destroyed and two trains were demolished. The entire city was shaken and considerable damage done by blast. Firemen are working hard to save the lives of those trapped. It is not known whether the explosion was caused by sabotage. SUNK BY EXPLOSION GERMAN CREW OF 27 LOST (Received August 18, 1 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, Aug. 17 The crew of 27 Germans was killed when the German steamer Burnlef sank on Tuesday off Zeeland after the ammunition aboard, which was being carried out to sea to be jettisoned, exploded. The explosion is believed to have been due to accident. TRADING WITH FINLAND RESUMPTION IN BRITAIN (Received August 18, 1 p.m.) LONDpN, Aug. 17 Private trading and financial transactions between England and Finland will be resumed from today under a memorandum of agreement lasting until June 30, 1947. The trading with the enemy legislation has been relaxed to permit this. INTEGRITY PROVED CHANNEL ISLANDS CONDUCT (Received, August, 18 12.15) LONDON, Aug. 17 The Home Secretary, Mr ,Chuter Ede, in a statement in the House of Commons on the conduct of the Channel Islander and administration during the German occupation, said inquiries revealed that the administration throughout maintained loyalty to the Crown. The suggestion that the relations which it necessarily had to maintain with the Germans amounted to any form of unpatriotic collaboration was entirely without justification. The conduct of the civil population, generally speaking, was rigid and correct. There were undoubtedly isolated cases of deviation from the generally high standard, and prosecutions were being launched.