Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1945-08-09
/ Might Be

P. G. STROMBERG

1O1 OH CohAhCA PCoSS' hS SlONN
est weapon ever used in this or
any other war. A weapon so
important that information re-
garding it was released by Pres
ident Truman. A weapon which
the G e r m n S
The tried nightly to
Atomic perfect but the.
Bomb success of which
remain d to
American Scientists. A weapon
which American Army heads de-
clined to use because of it's po-
tential frightfulness and then
reversed themselves for reasons
not yet made public. 1t is a
general conjecture, however,
that with Japan's rejection of
the peace plan proposed by the
Big Three at Potsdam, military
leaders, with the consent of
President Truman, decided to
use the weapon as means of
shortening the war and thereby
save many lives Especially
American lives).
Nothing in our lifetime is
more important to the develop
ment of civilization than the
perfection Of this bomb. For
years scientists have known
tremendous power was stored in
the atom. Natures mystery was
its control and release. While
it can be used as the greatest
weapon of war ever devised its
personalities for peacetime prog
ress are almost
Possibilities unlimited and
Stagger The stagger the inn
Imagination agination. And,
on the other
hand, its use for war makes us
feel that it will be one of the
greatest factors toward main
tenance of peace. Horrors and
terrors of war have not been
strong enough to make countries
remain at peace. This new ter
ror, coupled with the United
Nations Covenant, almost in
sures that even the most mill
taristic nation and stubborn
leaders will make supreme eff
forts to avoid armed conflict.
If we but stop long enough to
ponder what one atomic bomb
would do if released in an area
where we can visualize it we
might imagine one loosed in Bal
timore. 1t would level several
square miles and the conclusion
would be felt farther away than
New York City. Baltimore
could be practically wiped out
by few bombs. Several could
reduce New York City to rub
bic. Washington could be- dealt
a blow of complete obliteration.
So what about Japan? 1t
hardly can be expected that we
will carry this utter destruction
to the entire group of japanese
home islands. But we can rea-
sonably expect
Should End that there will
War In be sufficient
Pacific Soon number of these
bombs used fire.
quently enough to cause Hiro-
hito to demand that his war
lords sue for whatever kind of
peace the United States de-
mands.
What about future wars? If
the secrets Of the atomic bomb
can be kept by America and
Great Britain there will arise
no nation ambitious enough to
dare defy US. If all countries
possess the secret none will de-
sire to go to war. Even a VIC
torious nation might we'll have
been more devastated than any
defeated nation in history.
In the control of the United
States and Great Britain rests
the instrument which could be
used to destroy humanity. By
its use exclusively for destruc.
ton it will hasten the end OF
what we know as civilization
BY its conversion to civilizations
development it will stand among
mans greatest achievements.
No matter, however, what the
future holds for mankind the
capture, control and use Of
atomic energy marks the begin
ming Of a new era in history.