Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-08-07
Missiles on Hand
For New Attacks,
Spokesman Hints
BY JOSEPH H. BAIRD.

The United States has enough
of the new atomic bombs on
hand to continue bombarding
war-vital targets in Japan with
them if the Tokyo government
refuses to surrender, military
spokesman indicated today.
While awaiting reports from re-
connaissance planes on the damage
done to Hiroshima, Japanese mill
tary base, in the first atomic bomb
attack yesterday, officials said 1t was
reasonable to assume that enough Of
the deadly missiles were on hand to
continue the attacks.
The spokesman recalled that about
$4,000, 000, 900 had been expended on
the atomic bomb program. adding
that it was inconceivable, in view of
this, that enough bombs for the i'm
mediate future had not been pro-
vided.
Probably Dropped by Chute.
Military sources, without making
definite announcement as to the
technique used in dropping the
superbomb, were inclined to support
Japanese reports that it was let down
by a parachute. Also, officials said,
it was probable that the plane carry
ing the bomb few at tremendous
height to avoid damage from the
explosion.
Asked why the moderate sized city
of Hiroshima rather than Tokyo
was selected as the first target, a
spokesman replied:
Maybe we didn't want to risk
hitting the Tokyo government build
ings and destroying the very people
who may make the decision to sur
render"
Meanwhile, little is known of the
physical characteristics or methods
of using the bomb, and 1t is likely
that these questions will remain
unanswered at least until after the
defeat of Japan. For the present
the public must remain satisfied with
President Trumans statement that
it packs the wallop of 10000 tons
Of TNT-the most powerful ex-
plosive until the Harvesting of
atomic energy-and 1000 times that
Of the British grand SIAM" the
biggest bomb used in the war.
Weighs About 400 Pounds.
The most accurate index to the
actual size of the atomic bomb was
given in an Associated Press dis
patch from London which quoted an
official of the British Ministry of
Aircraft Production as saying that
it ''is 10 times smaller than
block buster, but many times as
powerful" This may be taken to
mean that the new bomb weighs
about 400 pounds.
Blockbusters were the 2-ton bombs
that we're the first giant aerial pro-
jectiles used by the Raj against
Germany. They were succeeded by
Atom factory busters" 6-ton
earthquakes" 11-ton grand slams"
Speaking in extremely conserva-
tive terms" the British common
tator said, one of the new atomic
bombs would be equivalent to
severe earthquake and would utterly
remove the place"
Interest centers for the moment
on the effectiveness of the bomb in
ending the war with Japan. Soon
after the new weapon was revealed
by the White House yesterday, the
ONCE of War Information began
broadcasting to the Japanese the
news of the terror which awaits
them if they insist on continuing
the war.
Breakfasts Begun.
owl transmitters in San Fran
cisco, Hawaii and Saipan broad
cast the White House announcement
in Japanese and other languages.
The Japanese may now determine
for themselves what the atomic
bomb did to Hiroshima, a giant
Army staging area with a normal
population of $4,000, and determine
whether they want other areas so
devastated.
1t is assumed here that If the
japanese elect to continue the war,
their other primary military and
naval targets soon will feel the
blast Of atomic bombs. Japanese air
power in recent weeks has proved in
capable of stopping attacks by B-29s
and f1eet-based tcraft dropping con-
ventional explosives, and there Is
no reason to believe that they can
now halt American planes carrying
the newer and deadlier weapon.
1t was recalled here that the joint
(See BOMB, Page A-6.)