Evening star., 1946-03-10
Carrier Fleet to Drop A-Bombs
Is Urged by Admiral Cassidy
Midwoy's Tests Show
Arctic Operations
Feasible, He Says
By Thomas R. Henry
Stor Sfoff Cofrsxnondant

SSiDsSf tbS S0yS
BY Thomas R. Henry
Stor Stoff Correspondent
ABOARD USS MIDWAY OFF
GREENLAND. Mar. s.-Regardless
of any results obtained from the
Crossroads" operation at Bikini
Atoll to test the efficacy of the
atomic bomb against fighting ships,
1t would be one of the biggest mis-
takes eyer made to scrap carriers,
Rear Admiral John M. Cassidy,
commander of this task force, said
in a press conference today at
which he expressed the view that
Arctic carrier operations are entire
ly feasible.
Americas only answer to a sur
prise atomic bomb raid, he said,
must be instant readiness to strike
back in much greater strength, and
he cited the fact that in the clos
ing months of the Pacific war from
! 500 to 1000 carrier planes were
almost constantly over enemy ter
ritory.
This same number of planes, he
said, conceivably could carry atomic
bombs stored on their home car
riers. Without carriers such a re-
ply would be impossible, because of
the necessity of establishing land
aid bases before the counterattack
was launched.
Hopes to Bar Atomic Bomb.
With the present construction of
heavily armored carriers of the Mid
way class, and with special types of
medium bombers already designed
for carrier use, it was pointed out,
such an episode as the "Shangri-
La" raid over Tokyo in 1912 might
other war.
While expressing his hope that
the atomic bomb will be ruled out,
Admiral Cassidy expressed belief
that its development must be con-
tinued, If only to prevent its sur
prise use by an enemy.
I'VE must be so ready that every
nation would feel it would be suicide
to attempt a surprise atomic bomb
raid against the United States" he
said, "our best defense is our in
slant readiness-and I repeat in
stant readiness to strike back in
greater strength than any enemy
might strike U.S."
Conclusions Issued.
Admiral Cassidy also listed some
Of the conclusions reached as the
result of the past four days of tests
Of men and equipment in sub-Arctic
waters:
l. Winter ship-based air opera
tions in the Arctic are entirely prac-
tical anywhere south of the ice sheet
when temperatures do not fall below
Is degrees above zero.
2. For almost anything except
long-range bombing and scoutingl
operations carriers the size Of thel
Midway provide better conditions
than land bases.
8. The Importance of this is aug
mented by the fact that atomic
bombs can be transported on car
riers and dropped from naval air
craft on targets several hundred
miles from the ships.
Force Turning South.
The Midway reached its farthest
north at sundown today-a point at
the entrance of Davis Straits be-
tween Cape st. David, on Canadian
owned Cumberland Island, and
Godthaab, capital Of Greenland
Paradoxically it now must turn south
in search of colder weather, which
probably can be found at the edge
of the ice off Labrador.
The advantage Of carriers in Arc
tic regions as bases for fighters, or
even medium bombers of a special
design, is due to several conditions,
Admiral Cassidy explained. First,
they never will experince extreme
temperatures. The thermometer over
open water, to which the ship nat
urally is confined, seldom drops be-
low Is degrees and almost never
below zero. Open water usually can
be found within bombing range of
an Arctic target at the same time
that land temperatures a few miles
away from the sea may 60 as low
as 40 below. Thus the carrier planes
are relieved of the problems of
starting motors in very extreme
temperatures.
The problem of keeping runways
clear also seems solved by the ex-
perience of the Midway to date.
With the catapult 1t is necessary
to keep the top deck clear of snow.
This can be done, it has been dem
onstrated, by setting the crew to
work with brooms and shovels as
soon as a snow squall starts and
working continuously as long as it