Evening star., 1946-03-23

breed in the Marshall Island area
in which Bikini is located.
The postponement was announced
| by Mr.. Ross at hastily summoned
press conference shortly after
o'clock last night.
| Mr.. Ross distributed this state
ment:
1.-The President announced tonight
that the atom bomb test in the
Pacific will be delayed about six
weeks.
1.-THE tests, calling for the detona-
ton of two atomic bombs In Bikini
Atoll had been scheduled for May
Is for the first, an air drop, and
July /, q surface burst.
'The postponement is prompted by
the fact that a large number OF
Congressman have expressed de-
sire to witness these tests, but owing
to the heavy legislative schedule
would be prevented from doing SC
! If the tests were held on the dates
originally fixed"
| A few hours before the delay was
announced, it was disclosed that In
vitations for foreign observers and
members of Congress to witness the
tests had not yet gone out. The
particular point was given little
weight in the discussions accom-
panying the White House announce
ment, but some objections had been
voiced on Capitol Hill to the whole
idea Of letting foreigners get that
close to the secret.
Earlier yesterday 1t was disclosed
in news conference with Army and
Navy officials of the joint task force
that test of the bomb against
simulated land armies had been
considered, but the possible dangers
have weighed against the idea, leav-
ing it in highly tentative basis.
Test Against Armies Discussed.
Maj. Gen. Anthony c. McAuliffe,
ground forces adviser on the staff OF
Admiral Blandy, was asked If any
thought had been given to making
test against armies.
He replied that there has been
some vague discussion, but no spe-
cific plan" has developed. Then he
added that Gen. Groves had said
that because of the dread posi-
bilities" of the bomb it might be
unwise to test 1t over land.
It Is possible, however, that such
test may be made at some future
date, Gen. McAuliffe said.
Gen. McAuliffe, Brig. Gen
Thomas H. Belts. intelligence off,
Ger; Col. John D. Frederick of Army
Ground Forces and Col. David H
Blakelock, assistant chief Of stah in
charge of logistics, discussed some
of the preparations for the test
They said that:
The array of Army Ground Force
materiel mounted on the weather
decks Of target ships will include
42-ton Pershing tanks, guns and
ammunition of all types and CLOTH
ing. Some of the clothing will be
worn by laboratory animals to SIM
ulate a soldier exposed to the bomb
blast.
Will Use Special Equipment.
One Of the important questions to
be answered in the tests is the
measure of passive defense needed
for armies subjected to atomic bomb
attacks, with the accompanying in
tense heat, radioactivity and tre-
,nendous blast effects.
| Special equipment will include not
only instruments in towers and on
the ground at Bikini atoil, but also
seismographs and wave recorders
at Midway, 1900 miles to the north
east, and Wake, $50 miles distant.
A radio transmitter will be in
stalled in the target fleet and turned
on to broadcast the sound of the
explosion-but there is no assurance
that idea will work.
The B-29 dropping the bomb for
the first test from a probable height
Of about 10000 feet win let go the
missile only when the target can
be sighted visually through a hole
in the clouds.
At Bikini, there never Is a cloud
less day, but the cloud cover usually
is broken.