Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-31
U. 5. Expanding
Production Of
Atom Weapons
Development Speeded
By New Principles;
U. S, Leeds in Ore
BY the Associated Press


The United States is develop
ing various types of atomic and
hydrogen weapons based on new
principles" and is expanding its
plants to be ready to turn them
out in quantity.
This was disclosed today by
the Atomic Energy Commission
in its semiannual report to Con-
gress covering the six months
ended June 30. During this
period, the Acc said, there was
progress in every principal
aspect of the Nations atomic
energy program.
The Acc disclosed also that
this Nation h->S now become "the
free worlds leading producer of
uranium ore"-having taken the
production lead from another
country during the last six
months. The Acc declined to
say which country, but presum-
ably it was Canada or the Bel
gian Congo.
AS for weapons, the Acc said
its two weapons research labora-
tories-one at Los Alamos, N.
Mex, and the other at Liver
more, Calif.-were working on
new principles" and that, as a
result. "the United States fam
lily of weapons in various stages
of research, development and
production engineering, is in
creasing rapidly"
Defense Emphasized
At another point the Acc
added:
1.-THE emphasis in the military
applications program during the
last six months was upon re-
search and development related
to expanding the categories of
nuclear weapons, including those
intended primarily for defense. -
Presumably, defense" weap-
ons would be primarily anti
aircraft missiles and possibly
naval mines.
Production of weapons ''con-
tinued in accordance with the
Presidents directive" the Acc
said, adding:
Production and ordnance IA
cilities are being expanded"
The report gave no details as
to the NEW principles" involved
in current developmental work.
An unofficial scientific view,
however, was that they involve
new ideas concerned with weapon
assembly and geometrical design
rather than any new concepts
of nuclear physics.
3 Million Tons
Concerning uranium ore pro-
duction, the commission said the
United States is now producing
domestically nearly 3 million
tons a year of the material which
is basic to the production of
weapons and to all peacetime
uses of atomic energy.
This compares with domestic
production of "only about 10000
tons" produced in 1913, Acc said,
adding that United States pro-
duction of ore sis expected to
reach S or 6 million tons a
year."
Other points made by the
l. Notable progress" was made
toward designing, constructing
and operating nuclear power re-
actors to generate economically
competitive electricity in the
United States" But the report
offered no estimates of when
such competitive power from the
atom would be achieved.
2. Construction of a second
nuclear-powered submarine, the
Seawolf, "neared completion"
3. Research and development
toward perfecting atomic-pow-
cred aircraft progressed salts
factorily."
4. Research designed to harness
the H-bomb reaction so that il
could be used as a source. OF
peacetime industrial power went
forward" in five different labora-
tories. 1.-THE research certainly
is on a very long-term basis, but
it is probable that success will be
achieved eventually" Acc said
5. New methods were developed
during the last six months "fol
using atomic energy products anc
a.