Evening star., 1951-04-18
D. {. Would Be Prime
Atom Bomb TARGET
In War, Holland Says

Senator Holland, Democrat, OF
Florida, warned the Senate today
that Washington would be "a
prime target" for an atomic bomb
ATTACK should war with Russia
come.
He was opening debate on the
SLOT million authorization measure
for dispersal of key Government
agencies into scattered Maryland
and Virginia areas and for decen-
tralization Of other agencies to
more distant points.
The Florida Senator. chairman
Iof a Public Works Subcommittee
which drafted the defense meas
ure, told the Senate:
II hardly think it is necessary
to argue the point that If such
a war should come, and If Russia
possesses the atomic bombs and
the capacity to deliver, them, there
will be no question about her will
lingness to use them in an attack
on our cities and industrial centers
and upon our Capital as the nerve
center Of the Nation"
Possible First Incident.
And If war does come, he added,
the use of A-bombs might be
the first incident of such war"
before a formal declaration OF
war.
Senator Holland explained that
the Public Works Committee had
written an entirely new section in
the bill. directing the demolition
|of temporary buildings constructed
in the Capital during World War
III. These buildings housed 81 900
Government workers.
They are frame, wooden build
|ings with cenent-asbestos wall
board and composition roofs: he
said. They are f1retraps of the
most dangerous kind.
In the event of a bomb attack,
they offer terrible hazard not
only to the $1,000 employees, but
also to others working iD the con-
gested Capitol area. While burn
ing, they would certainly close
vital thoroughfares, such as Con-
stitution avenue, Independence
avenue and others"
$40 Million Construction Cost.
Similar frame temporary build
ings of World War vintage also
would be demolished. Senator Hol-
land continued. listing among
these the Munitions. Navy Build
ingS, and Temporary E.
Senator Holland said it was esti-
mated the construction of four
buildings on four sites roughly 20
miles out from the Zero Milestone
would cost $65.6 million, plus $4.4
million for the sites.
An additional $28 million, he
said, would be needed for the con-
struction of a high-speed, limited
access "circumferncial' or bypass
highway that would be built from
Shirley highway in Virginia.
around to the Washington Balti-
more Parkway to the northeast.
Access highways to link this by
pass highway with Washington
and the dispersal sites would cost
an additional $4.5 and a like sum
would be needed for communica-
tions.
The Montgomery County Coun-
ell is opposed to the erection of
any office buildings in the county
under the dispersal program un-
less Federal funds are made avail
able for the necessary roads and
schools.
Councilman Lathrop E. Smith
made this clear at the groups
meeting yesterday.
MIR. Smith said he had been
asked by members Of the Senate
committee considering the pro-
posal whether the county had
changed the stand it took when he
appeared before the committee
about two months ago.
At that hearing, Mr. Smith ex-
pressed the opinion the county
was neither for nor against the
bill.
1--WE believe now" he asserted,
that if the bill goes through, the
Federal Government should share
expenses arising out of the loca-
tion of Government buildings here.
We feel we should get a definite
grant in lieu of taxes on the land
the Government would take over.
We can't keep putting additional
costs for schools and roads on the
backs of county taxpayers"
He also indorsed the bill intro
duced by Senator Neely, Demo-
|crat, of West Virginia, which
would reorganize the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
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