Evening star., 1946-07-21
Security Essentials
For the Atomic Ace
Strategic Bombing Survey Shows
New Defense Steps Needed
BIZ William II. Harrison.

By William II. Harrison.
The effects of the atomic bomb and
related weapons on the future security
of nations are so drastic and far-reach-
ing that full public comprehension of
what must be done about them proba-
bly, will be achieved only by gradual
stages. Even now, however, there is
general awareness-somber and bit
frishtened-of the uniquely dangerous
character of the age ahead, and q good
part of the credit for bringing about that
awareness belongs to the United States
Strategic Bombing Survey.
Established In 1914 at the direction
of President Roosevelt, the Survey is
made up of a group of civilian experts
headed by Franklin D'Olier In its own
words, its function has been ito estab-
lish basis for evaluating air power as
an instrument OF military strategy. for
planning the future development of the
United States armed forces, and for
determining future economic policies
with respect to the national defense"
To this end, it has made exhaustive
studies of the effects Of our aerial Of
fensives against Germany and Japan
and has issued number OF illuminat-
ing and objective reports on its find
ings, the latest being its excellent over
all summary-just made public-of what
our flyers accomplished in the Pacific.
As far as future American security is
concerned. the substance of these re-
ports is simply this: That the United
States-people and Government alike
must henceforth think and act on. the
problem Of defense in terms that would
have been considered fantastic only a
few short years ago. In this connection,
1t is interesting that the Survey arrived
at this view before the atomic bomb
burst upon the world. What it had found
in Germany was enough to convince 1t
that America, from the military stand
point, could never again be safe under
the old way Of doing things. Hiroshima
and Nagasaki merely deepened the con-
viction with new degree of urgency.
The Strategic Bombing Survey does
not believe, OF course. that navies and
land armies have outlived their useful
ness. But 1t has no doubt that air power
-encompassing not only conventional
and jet-propelled planes, but also Buck
Rogerish things like transoceanic rock
cts Of supersonic speed, guided missiles,
electronic weapons that home" to the
target, pilotless aircraft, space ships"
etc.-has SO transformed the context"
in which surface vessels and ground
troops have been used in the past that
radically changed equipment, training
and tactics will be required" from now
on. The grim nature of this necessity is
underscored by such facts as these: Cd
That the atomic bomb, though its pres
ent effectiveness is $4,000 times that
of an orthodox 500-pound bomb is still
in the Model T" stage and can be
developed into something far deadlier;
CD that the process of making it places
at mans disposal equally lethal radio
active poison gases; 80 that similarly
decimating germ sprays" are available
for war purposes. and az that against
such weapons-let loose from great dis
tances with appalling suddenness-the
bulk of the cities of America or the
cities of any land could not survive.
In its report last month on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki, the Strategic Bombing
Survey, weighing such factors as these,
declared it to be imperative for the
United States to take action noD to
adjust its security system accordingly
Thus, it recommended first of all that
our military establishment make sure
by dispersal, concealment, protection
and constant readiness of its forces
that no single blow or series of blows
from an enemy can cripple its ability
to strike back in the same way" the
thought behind this being that the hand
Of potential aggressors might be stayed
by the threat of instantaneous retalia-
ton. At the same time the Survey ad-
vocated the immediate initiation of pro-
grams aimed at % a partial decen-
tralization of our industrial and medi-
cal facilities, (2) structural strengthen
ing of our buildings, go long range ca
tastrophe-r relief planning, and 90 the
blueprinting, at least, of city shelters
that would be effective protection
against atomic radiation.
Now, in its latest report the Survey
repeats these recommendations and
adds others besides. Reminding Amer
lea once again of the deadliness of
A-weapons, observing matter of -factly
that every japanese city of more than
10000 population could have been wiped
out IN single day had we had atomic
bombs when the B-29s first moved to
their bases in the Marianas, it urges
the Nation to spend billion dollars
year on scientific research and de-
velopment to keep us ahead of any po-
tential aggressor. In addition, it calls
for the most efficient possible system
Of peacetime intelligence and counter
intelligence, and it strongly advocates
the creation of an extraordinary third
branch of the armed services to be CO.
equal with the Army and Navy within
department of common defense. Diff
fering considerably from an autonomous
air force this branch would be pri-
marily responsible for keeping the Ma
tion passively and actively ready for
Buck Rogers warfare, exercising juris-
diction over all types of air power, ex-
cept what could be used more effective
ly as component parts of the Army
and Navy.
X X
No second glance Is needed to detect
the costly and unprecedented nature of
some of these proposals. Yet the men,
bers of the Strategic Bombing Survey