Evening star., 1953-08-02
Our Continuing Atomic Gains

In its 18th SemiannuM report to Congress.
the Atomic Energy Commission has drawn a
picture strongly suggesting that the first six
months OF this year have been marked by some
OF the most significant progress made to date in
the field of nuclear energy for both military and
non-military purposes
AS far as military aspects are concerned,
the report is almost ostentatiously guarded in
its language, but it leaves no room for doubt
that the March-to-June detonations at the
Navada Proving Ground-"the longest and most
complex series yet conducted" out there-have
opened up very profitable avenues to new and
improved weapons that promise important
Stockpile additions to the numbers, variety and
power of the Nations atomic ornaments Fur
ther, although it makes no specific mention of
the hydrogen destroyer, the report refers in
directly to it when it says that certain facilities
are already In operation- preparing materials
for start-up of the first major production
units" at Savannah River S. C-the site gen.
orally presumed to be, with good reason, the
chief center of H-bomb development.
But while the Acc has thus merely limited
at far-reaching and portentous gains in the
development of weapons its latest accounting
to Congress is relatively explicit and loouacious
regarding achievements in the field of reactors
The period covered by this report" it saws
included greater number of significant events
IN reactor development than any previous six
months IN the commissions history. These
events indicated accelerating progress in the
development OF reactors for power generation,
nuclear propulsion. and improved production
of fashionable materials" Perhaps the most
outstanding accomplishment of all has been
the experimental breeder" that has been made
to produce at least as much nuclear fuel as it
conSumeS-aS If ton of coal could be coaxed
into reproducing itself while burning away to
ashes.
OF comparable Importance is the fact that
reactor experts have moved far forward with
the Two different nuclear engines that are to
drive the submarines Nautilus and Sea Wolf
giving them unprecedented range while sub
merged and allowing them to travel about
third faster than any of our present sub
mersibleS. In addition, an atomic power plant
more advanced than either of these is being
developed for a submarine of significantly
higher speed" At the same time, because of
tnlS Kind OF work, we are moving steadily closer
to the day when it will be economically feasible
to harness the atom to produce electrical energy
to run industry, light up cities and do other
great and beneflcent peacetime tasks Indeed
the Acc has already outlined a policy to en-
courage private enterprise to play key role
in Fastening that day on.
This picture of gains in reactors and
weapons taken together with what the Acc
report says about the work being done with
nuclear energy in physical research and in the
fields of biology and medicine-with special
emphasis on cancer-adds up to firm assur-
ance that the Nation has been investing wisely
and well in its atomic project. It is an invest
ment that has already yielded rich dividends in
the form of military security, and the promise
is great that it may yet yield far richer divi-
dends in terms of promoting health and
economic betterment in peaceful world.