Evening star., 1955-01-30
acc Report Hints
New Major Progress
In Atomic Weapons
BY ire Associates Pres,

oA0AA AOAN0SOc sAA~ POSoAHAA-SJ "a
new major developments" in
the field of atomic weapons.
Acc said In a serni-annual re-
port to Congress yesterday that
new areas Of research" were
opened by last springs Opera
tion Castle" tests in the Pacific.
It also said new tests to start
in about two weeks at the Ne
vada test site are needed ito OBJ
tain scientific knowledge essen
tial to development and utiliza-
ton of nuclear weapons for de-
Tense of this Nation and the Free
World"
Acc gave no details in the re-
port and officials declined to
elaborate on it.
H-BOmb Missiles Suspected.
There was unofficial specula-
ton, however. that the new
areas" might have to do with
(D long-range hydrogen bomb
guided missiles, (2) shorter
range missiles aimed at knock
ing down atomic-armed aerial
invading craft. or ca better ways
Of making atomic weapons.
Air Secretary Talbot told the
House Armed Services Commit
tee last Thursday this country
has made a marked advance.
In q race with the Soviet Union
to develop intercontinental mis-
siles with atomic warheads.
Another possibility-that some
sort of super-hydrogen bomb
might be in the works-appeared
less likely. Acc Chairman Lewis
Strauss has said there seems to
be no need to develop a more
powerful bomb than the existing
type.
Similarly there have been Of
ficial throwdowns Of speculation
that an ultra-powerful cobalt
bomb-which in theory could
wipe out all life on earth--might
be under study.
Atomic Progress Hailed.
Today's report. covering the
last half Of 1864. said in part:
Operation Castle, conducted
In the spring Of 1854 at the Pa
ciflc proving ground Tin the Mar
shall 1slands) was the most ex-
tensive series yet conducted
there.
THE evaluation of the results
during this reporting period con-
firmed the Castle promise Of
most significant progress in de-
sign. development and proof test
Of weapons.
"As a result the weapons pro-
gram was directed toward new
areas of research opened up by
the Castle information that hold
promise of additional major de-
velopmentS, and toward the
stockpiling of weapons adding
large potential to our defensive
power"
$13 Billion Expenditure.
THE Acc report gave these
ether progress highlights Of the
Nations atomic energy pro-
gram, which it said has cost
$13.2 billion since its beginning
in World War II:
!. added emphasis" on peace
time uses of atomic energy as a
result Of new authority given by
the Cole-Hickenlooper Act of
1854.
2. Greater participation by
private industry in atomic de-
velopment, especially In expert
mental production of atomic
power for commercial use. The
report said Acc has evolved a
pattern for research and devel-
opment from which 1t believes
will come nuclear power plants
that will compete with other
sources Of energy"
8. Continued stress on research
into the uses Of radioactive ma
terials to treat cancer and other
diseases. The report said the
Argonne Research Hospital in
Illinois has found it practical to
treat cancer of the pancreas with
radio-iodine encased In plastic
tubing. It says attempts are be-
ing made at Argonne to implant
plastic envelopes containing an
other radioactive substance. ces-
inu. In the brain and chest.
4. A heavy increase in the min
ing of uranium, the raw material
for most atomic products. The
report said ore is being mined
In this country faster than it can
be processed.