Detroit evening times., 1945-11-16

IpeOplc were hlllcQ outright.
manned were given what pitifl
brought from the nearest city.
That is what happened at Hiro
shima, and that is what coulC
happen to any American city. Fol
the first time man has a weapon
than can completely destroy. The
atomic bomb is not just another
military toy. 1t can change the
fate of our civilization.
OTHERS CAN GET 1T
We who have worked on the
development of the atomic bomt
have been deeply aware of the
tremendous problems it poses. Ir
the preceding two articles of this
series, we have shown there Is
nothing 10 prevent other nations
of the world from having large
stocks Of atomic bombs in a few
years.
With the present public knowl-
edge of what has been accom-
plished, and under peacetime con-
ditions, such bombs may be pro-
duced at a fraction Of the cost
and effort which we put into
them.
Within few years they may
be well within the reach of the
smaller nations in the world. Yet
the atomic bomb, even in its pres
ent early stage of development
is a weapon without comparison.
I 1t is a weapon Of overwhelming
power. made TO order for the
dreams of conquest by a potential
world tyrant.
NEW PEARL HARBOR?
With this weapon, the odds are
so heavily in favor of the ag-
| gressor that we can expect any
future war TO begin with a knock
out blow
The memory Of Pearl Harbol
Is still fresh in our minds. Lei
us substitute for each OF the
bombers used in that attack &
long range plane or VIZ rocket
Each has one or more atomic
bombs and each is directed to-
ward an important city or vital
military establishment.
IT requires little imagination
10 picture a new Pearl Harbor"
in which our hundred largest
cities are wiped out, 100000
Of US killed and many millions
injured. the nation hopelessly
disorganized and at the mercy OF
the enemy.
Are any defenses possible that
can prevent such an attack? In
order 10 answer this, three points
must be kept in mind.
IT'S SAFE, UNASSEMBLED
The first is that the atomic
bomb is radically different from
ordinary bombs. 1t consists OF
perfectly stable and inert Jumps
of material. You couldn't explode
one Of these Jumps with a ton
of dynamite. They are as safe
as a piece of clay.
It is only when these pieces
are brought together in GER
tain way that they explode
There is no possibility of an un-
desired explosion. A pilot carry
ing an atomic bomb would actual
| ~ feel far safer than with a load
iof TNT-no chance hit by ar
aircraft she'll could detonate his
bomb.
The second point Is that be-
cause these bombs cannot be ex-
/ ploded prcmaturely. there are no
| specific defenses against them
The best we can do is TO prevent
them from reaching their desti-
nation That is, 10 shoot down
the planes or rockets that carry
them, and 10 intercept any sabo-
teurs intending to plant them in
our cities.
AIRTIGHT DEFENSE VITAL
The third point is that the de-
fenSe must be completely alright
and foolproof. A single bomb
slipping through could wipe out
a center the size Of Jersey City.
The enemy can afford 10 waste
bombs. If only 90 out of a hun
dred planes are shot down, this
attack will still be successful. for
one plane does the work Of 1000.
Let us suppose we go ahead
with a policy of armed defense.
We will have the worlds most
powerful air force, the worlds
| largest and best equipped army,
the worlds toughest marines,
the best and biggest atomic
/ bombs and such defensive weap-
ons as our ingenuity can devise,
When our military intelligence
/ informs us that other nations
have. as we had anticipated, per-
pected the atomic bomb and gone
I into mass production, what shall
we do7 Wy
BUT WE WOULD WAIT
Should we Immediately adapt
the Nazi aibi Of self-protection
and make surprise attacks on
such nations 10 subject them 10
our rules? II we are going to act
on suspicion. what are we wait