Evening star., 1945-08-06

war work. In the United States the
laboratory work and the production
plants, on which substantial start
had already been made. would be out
of reach of enemy bombing, while at
that time Britain was exposed TO
constant air attack and was still
threatened with the possibility OF
invasion. For these reasons Prime
Minister Churchill and President
Roosevelt agreed that it was wise to
carry on the project here.
We now have two great plants
and many lesser works devoted to
the production of atomic power.
Employment during peak construc-
ton numbered $4,000 and over
65 900 individuals are even now en-
gagged in operating the plants.
Many have worked there for III
wears. Few know what they have
been producing. They see great
quantities of material going In and
they see nothing coming out OF
these plants, for the physical size
of the explosive charge Is exceed
ingly small. We have spent $1,000
600 900 on the great scientific gam
BILE in history-and won. :.
But the greatest marvel is not
the size of the enterprise. its secre-,
CIV, nor its cost. but the achievement
of scientific brains in putting to-
gether infinitely complex pieces OF
knowledge held by many men in
different fields OF science into q
workable plan. IS
And hardly less marvellous has
been the capacity of industry to de-
sign. and of labor to operate, the
machines and methods to do things
never done before so that the brain
child of many minds came forth IN
physical shape and performed as II
was supposed to do. Both science
and industry worked under the d.
rection of the United States Army
which achieved a unique success In
managing so diverse problem In
the advancement of knowledge In
an amazingly short time.
It is doubtful If such another
combination could be got together
in the world. What has been done
is the greatest achievement OF
organized science in history. 1t
was done under high pressure and
without failure. -
Japan Faces Ruin.
We are now prepared to obliterate
more rapidly and completely every
productive enterprise the Japanese
have above ground in any city. We
shall destroy their docks, their fac
tories and their communications
Let there be no mistake: we shall
completely destroy Japans power to
make war.
It was to spare the japanese peo-
pie from utter destruction that the
ultimatum of July IS was issued at
Potsdam. Their leaders promptly
rejected that ultimatum. II they
do not now accept our terms they
may expect. a rain of ruin from the
air. the like of which has never been
seen. .on this earth. Behind this air
attack will follow sea and land
forces in such numbers and power
as they have not yet seen and with
the fighting skill of which they are
already well aware.
The, Secretary of War, who ha:
kept in personal touch with al
phases of the project, will immedi-
ately make public a statement CIV
ing further details.
His statement will give facts con-
cerning the sites at Oak Ridge near
Knoxville, Tenn, and at Richland
near Pasco, Wash, and an installa- =
ton near Santa Fe, N. Mex. Al
though the workers at the sites have
been making materials to be used In
producing the greatest destructive
force in history they have not them
selves been in danger beyond that OF
many other occupations, for the
utmost care has been taken Of their
safety.
Peacetime Role Seen.
The fact that We can release
atomic energy ushers in new era
in mans understanding of Natures
forces. Atomic energy may In the
future supplement the power that
now comes from coal. oil and falling
water, but at present it cannot be
produced on basis to compete
with them commercially. Before
that comes there must be a long
period of intensive research.
1t has never been the habit OF
the scientists of this country or the
policy of this Government to with
hold from the world scientific
knowledge Normally, therefore, ev-
erything about the work with atomic
energy would be made public. 80
But under present circumstances
it is not intended to divulge the
technical processes Of production or
all the military applications. pend
ing further examination Of possible
methods of protecting us and the
rest of the world from the danger
of sudden destruction. !
shall recommend that the Con-
01-nSs IF fho 1Ipifad States ropSidA Ar