Evening star., 1953-01-04
Knockout Blow atU.S.
Reported Possible in
Civil Defense Study

A warning of what could be
"a knockout, Saturation attack on
the United States" in the not-too-
distant future accompanies the
now-completed report on Project
East River"
The project undertook to eval-
uate and recommend the best
combination of non military
measures to minimize the effects
Of atomic. biological, chemical or
other attacks on people and in
duStry.
The final report, parts of which
are secret, now has been received
by the Federal Civil Defense Ad-
minlStration, National Security
Resources Board and the Depart
ment of Defense, which initiated
the project.
Headed by DIR. Berkner.
1t was carried out by Associated
Universities, Inc, which operates
Brookhaven National Laboratory
for the Atomic Energy Commits
sion.
Dr. Lloyd v. Berkner is pres
ldent of Associated Universities,
which includes Cornell. Columbia,
Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Massa-
.chuSetts Institute of Technology,
Princeton, Pennsylvania, Roches-
ter and Yale.
THE enemy's Stockplle of
atomic bombs and other weapons,
together with the means to de-
liver them on targets, will reach
a total at some not-too-distant
date which will permit the launch
ing Of what could be a knockout,
saturation attack on the United
States" said the introduction to
the general report.
"At that time, the enemy will
no longer be deferred from any
action he may choose to take.
even though the United States
may possess a much greater
number of atomic bombs for re-
taliatery USE" it continued.
The speed and range of weap-
on carriers have brought every
section of the United States within
attack range"
Project Director.
Gen. Otto L. Nelson, jr., vice
president of the New York Life
Insurance Co., who was project
director, declared in his trans
initial letter:
4 "An attack with modern weap-
ons would be much more dam
aging to our population, our
property, our way of life and to
our democratic institutions gen.
orally than is realized by the pub
lie or even by many responsible
Government officials"
He said that effective corrective
measures could be taken. with
these requirements:
Development of a national pro-
gram for reduction of target
vulnerability, continuing improve
ment in the effectiveness of air
defense and construction of a
permanent civil defense system.
100 Take Part.
More than 100 scientists, edu-
Gators, businessmen and Govern
ment experts took part in the
project. 1t was launched in June.
1851. 1t deals with all conceivable
aspects of civil defense. The
specific recommendations are
being studied by the sponsoring
agencies and others interested.
The point to be stressed" ac-
cording to the report. lis that
specific measures must be taken
by each responsible agency at each
level of government to reduce the
civil defense task to one that IS
feasible
The civil defense program must
convince the people that its ac-
tivities greatly increase the indi-
vidual citizens chance of survival
and minimize his property damage,
it was pointed out.
The Federal Civil Defense Ad-
ministration noted that the ma
terial in the report was developed
by Associated Universities and
should not be construed as official
noljcies of the agencies involved.