Evening star., 1945-10-06

celebrations |
those soldiers and sailors and Ma
rines have earned and which they
richly deserve /
Beginning Of Atomic Age.
All of us, whether civilian or mill
tary. are thinking about our future.
In this respect, l am willing to pre-
dict that the future for us all lies in
a world which was greatly altered
just three months ago with the
touching off OF a mighty explosion
IN the desert of New Mexico. Per-
haps it Is not too much TO predict
that history will refer to this present
period not as the ending of a great
conflict but as the beginning of the
great new atomic age
Our technologists and scientists
tell us that. at some unpredictableI /
time In the future, atomic power win
be tanned and harnessed so that it |
will become available for industrial
and humanitarian uses. We all hope
so. But those uses lie in the field
OF gueSSwork and speculation. We
already know for a fact, however.
about the frightfulN destructive uses
for which this power is available TO-
day.
The atomic bomb did not win the
war against Japan-the japanese
had, in fact, already sued for peace
before the atomic age was an
nouneed to the world with the de-
struction of Hiroshima and before
the Russian entry into the war.
y In saying that the atomic bomb
played no decisive part, from a
purely military standpoint, in the
defeat OF Japan this is no effort to
minimize the awful power of this
new weapon. 1t is even reasonable
TO assume that further refinements
will increase this power The mpor-
tant matter for our consideration is
how viii it affect our future as in
dividuals and as Nation, and what
are We going to do about it?
There have been statements that
armies and navies are now becoming
obsolete, and that any possible fu-
ture wars viii be simple if frightful
affairs of long distance extermina-
ton carried on by remote control.
Before risklng our future by accept
ing these ideas at face value, let us
examine the historical truth that
at least up to this time-there has
never yet been a weapon against
which man has been unable to de-
wise counterweapon or a defense.
1t would seem a matter of the high
est national security that, if such
defense were available, or if new
military applications for this new
weapon we're devised, these facts
should be placed in a category of
strictest secrecy.
Navy viii Study Atsn Bomb.
1t is no secret, however, to tell you
that your Navy, which had a part in
developing the atomic bomb, will
constantly study the best applica-
tions of this new weapon. both from
the standpoint of offense and de-
fense, as major component of your
national seapower.
Iwould like to tell YOU that In my
opinion-and based ON all the facts
available-the introduction Of atom
ic power has given new importance
to seapower from the standpoint of
our future welfare and safety. Our
defense frontiers are no longer our
own eoastlines or the adjacent wa
tiers by which they are bounded
Today our frontiers are the entire
world.
Admitting this fact, let us also
recognize the geographical truth
that if this country is ever attacked
in the future-and may God shield
us from such misfortune-that at
tack will have TO be launched at us
across one or more OF the great
oceans of the world. Before it strikes
effectively. that attack must travel
on the surface of the sea, above the
surface Of the sea or underneath the
surface of the sea.
With the lessons of a great war
still fresh in our minds, every Amer
ican today realizes that seapower is
NO longer confined to ships and men.
1t includes ships and planes and
men and bases. 1t includes mighty
amphibious armadas and powerful
carrier striking forces. It includes
guaranteed lines of communication
and supply to any point upon the
globe. But perhaps most important
Of all, modern American seapower
today includes the ability TO devise
and use new weapons, and to coun-
teract any new weapon which might
be launched against us by any po-
tentiaf enemy. I feel you will agree
that your Navy in this war has
given proof Of It's abifity-when
backed up by eur Nation-to per-
form in all of these fields.
Plea for Strong Navy.
Today you, the people of the
United States. are the possessor OF
the mightiest sea power the world
has ever known. Because We are aI
democracy, you alsn have the righss
to say whether you win keep and
preserve this sea power, or whether
you will pat it on the back and let
it die. Because we are not q warlike
people, we win face strong tempta-
tion to do the latter. I pray that
we will not take the easiest way
that We pledge ourselves to remain
strong In order that We may con-
tinue to live as free man.
Reause We are peaceful people
We can say in all honesty that, II our
neighbor nations wait for US to start
it-there will never be another war.
Yet we cannot afford to pawn our
f1ltitrr yssarelv ar tha hasis ~ risr