Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-14
Fleet 10 Be Spaced
For Varying Degrees
|0f Damage byA-Bomb
By w. II. Shipper. Jr.

by w. n. Shippen, Jr.
The aiming point of the test
atomic bomb drop at Bikini will be
a capital ship of the line spotted in
the center of guinea pig" fleet
whose disposition now has been
agreed upon by the joint chiefs of
staff.
Army and Navy commanders
pointed out late yesterday that a
primary objective Of the experiment
will be to obtain maximum destruc-
ton on at least one heavy ship. with
damage diminishing from heavy to
light around the fringes of the fleet
within the coral-rimmed lagoon.
The bombardier of the chosen
B-29 crew will try to pin point a
burst at a predetermined distance
above the target to provide the
widest possible field for investigating
the result. 1t was emphasized at the
press conference in the Navy De-
partment that the atomic charge
was never calculated to sink the
whole works."
Test Animals Necessary.
Misleading emphasis, in the opin-
ion of DR.. Norris E. Bradbury, di-
rector of the Los Alamos Labora-
tory. Manhattan Project, has been
| placed on the number of naval YES
sells involved.
"A large percentage of these
ships" he pointed out, ARE not ex-
pected to receive serious damage.
Many are to carry important instru-
ments which will record data nee
essary to interpret properly the re-
suits of the test" He suggested
that burned-out hulks might carry
valuable instruments and informa-
ton down with them.
This applies also to "a ships
aboard which some 200 goats, 200
pigs and 5000 rats will be placed to
test the reactions of living creatures
to blasts and the effect of atomic
heat and radiation. As to the hu-
name angle, Vice Admiral w. H. p.
Blandy, commander of Operations
Crossroads" made it clear that "the
primary concern is to protect the
lives of Americans of this and fu-
ture generations. instruments
alone, he said, cannot gauge possible
human reactions, and for this rea-
son doctors interested in the tests
desire the use of animals"
Goats, pigs and rats were chosen
for several practical reasons, accord
ing to Capt. r. Harold Draeger Of
the Naval Medical Research Insti-
tute at Bethesda, Md, who will have
charge of this phase of the tests.
Aboard ship they aren't prone to
seasickness, are relatively easy to
care for and experience enables SCI
entists to evaluate their reactions
in relation to those Of men.
Transport Being Fitted.
The assault transport Burleson is
being reftted at Hunters Point, San
Francisco, as a floating laboratory
to transport biologists and test ami
mails to the Marshalls. Pens and
crates are being installed in the
holds and troop quarters converted
into laboratories. The Burleson is
scheduled to sail April Is. Some 40
men with farming experience will
care for the animals.
When the bomb Is exploded some
goats will be tethered on decks OF
target ships and others let free to
roam compartments below the water
line. The pigs will be freed below
decks, it was said, and. the rats
Gagged in numerous places through
out the test fleet. All will be
| spotted according to plan at varying
distances and exposure angles from
the focal point Of the blast.
A few goats, it was explained, will
be covered with multi-type clothing
and placed in exposed positions to
determine the protective quality of
the clothing. Others will be clipped
to human hair lengths and covered
with various anti-flash creams.
Pigs will play an important role
in these tests, it was said, because
their skin is somewhat similar to
that of humans.
To Check on Radiation.
Special attention will be given to
the symptoms and treatment Of ra-
diation-sick animals after the tests.
The National Cancer Institute is
collaborating by furnishing 100
white mice with predictions to-
ward cancer.
Other agencies assisting the Navy
in the studies are the Chemical
Warfare Service of the Army and
the Agriculture Department, which
hopes to learn the effect of the ra-
diation on insects in various types
Of grain.
Admiral Blandy and Maj. Gen.
Leslie B. Groves, who headed the
wartime development of the atomic
bomb, announced that the majority
of the staff Of Task Force / will
leave Washington by special plane
March %, and will sail from San
Francisco about April 5. The adj
miral added that either the battle
ship Iowa or New Jersey will be
available to transport Secretaries of
the Army and Navy or joint staff
s|||z:|||alZu'