The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-06-25
Information On
SeUerl Military
Measures Is
Made Public
BY ELTON c. FAY

WASHINGTON R-Somebody's
security slip was showing today
with publication of recent testi-
mony about military secrets by
Army officials before House
appropriations committee.
Military secrets which popped
into the open included information
about:
/. An entirely new weapons
carrying vehicle, nicknamed 1.-THE
Thing" but carrying the official
designation "0ntos," to be used
variously, including as a mount
for a new VERY high-powered"
recoilless rifle and for a quad
ripple .50-caliber anti.aircraft weap-
on against lowflying planes.
2. A plan to provide much
longer range" for the 2S0-milli-
meter cannon, which now has a
20-mile accurate range and fires
either atomic or conventional
shells, and a new shell, slightly
smaller than the caliber of this
giant cannon, expected to extend
its range "by about so per cent. J"
3. Extra light tanks" two of
which are under test, of a type
expected eventually to replace the
2s-ton Walker Bulldog tank.
4. A lightweight radar for battle
front use, apparently to help detect
enemy attempts at infiltration Of
the front line, a technique much
used by the Communists in the
Korean War.
5. A long-range radar IFF (iden-
LITIGATION, friend or foe), which
could mean the Identification of
aircraft long before they are within
range of anti-aircraft guns or
guided missiles.
8. A folding, portable bridge, to
be carried on top Of a tank as a
shelter for the crew while being
put In place under enemy fire.
Z. A steam cupboard motor for
small boats, to be used for quiet
crossing of rivers when the noise
of gasoline cupboard motors would
warn the enemy.
Army officials expressed amaze
ment and appeared appalled, when
copies Of the 1,667.page printed
testimony released by the subcom-
mittee reached the Pentagon.
Among the pages was informa-
ton on new weapons still stamped
secret by the Pentagon. 1t was not
Immediately clear how the mater
ial had come to be left in that
portion Of testimony sent for pub
lie printing.
Security cropped UP on some odd
subjects. There were loft the
record" notations for discussions
on such topics as the number of
cigarettes for prisoners of war in
Korea, publicity release to bus
inessmen on why they should sup
port the National Guard, and feed
for the courier pigeons Of the Sig.
nal Corps.
The Army plugged hard for ifs
atomic cannon during the teSti-
inony.
Maj. Gen. Kenneth D. Nichols,
chief of Army research and devel.
opment, emphasized need for Army
atomic capabilities on the battle.
field, with both the gun and guided
missiles armed with atomic war
heads. He asserted:
"All the studies which we have
made indicate that whether we can
or cannot defend Europe with the
amount Of manpower and number
of divisions which we are able TO
support, may depend on whether
we can achieve this atomic capa.
bility."
Gen. j. Lawton Collins, Army
chief Of staff. for his part, replied
to some criticism OF the gun, in,
GLIDING questions about It's mobil.
ity because of weight.
He said. among other things. that
II isn't true a special bridge would
be needed for river crossings, thai
the 2s0.milllmeter can "cross ans
bridge that . medium tank car
cross"
The gun, together with the two
motor tractors that haul II, weigh,
IS tons.
Army Witnesses said the overall
Army cost for the March IL te
May Is atomic test in Nevada wa.
set at $2.sS7 600. For the atomic
cannon test, the cost (less that 81
the SHELF totaled SIS. 200.
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