Evening star., 1957-08-31
Great A-bonlb
Lights West,
Me|ts Tower
Weapon Twice Thut
Used at Hiroshima
Awes Observers

ATOMIC TEST SITE, New,
Aug. 81 (R.-An atom bomb
twice as powerful as the one
that shattered Hiroshima ex-
ploded today with a binding
blue light visible for hundreds
of miles throughout the West.
Within a few minutes after the
shuddering blast was touched
off, 40 helicopters swooped in
to pick up 900 nuclear age in
fantrymen huddled a mile and
a half from the blast site for
post-shot assault maneuvers.
A crack infantry platoon
from Canada took part in the
troop exerciSeS-the first time
any troops other than those
from the United States have
participated in such maneuvers.
Radiation detection crews from
Canada have been active in
the tests since 1855.
The shot, code named
Smoky" was the 18th in the
current test series being con-
Quoted by the Atomic Energy
Commission. 1t was exploded
from a 700-foot tower at $50
am. (PDT) after a 30-minute
delay to permit a final check
Of wind conditions.
Twice HirOshima's Power
Just before shot time it was
announced that the power yield
Of the device was twice nominal
nominal being the equivalent
of 10000 tons of INT, which
was the power of the bomb
dropped on. Hiroshima in 1945.
The tower holding the bomb
was vaporized by the tremen-
dous explosion. which set grass
and trees more than two miles
away on fire and was felt as
q sharp blow by observers on
News Mob, some IA miles from
the blast site.
More impressive to witnesses,
however, was the brilliant
blue flash that accompanied
the detonation. The eerie light
held for several seconds before
darkness closed in again.
The dazzling light was clearly
seen in San Francisco. more
than 400 miles away, where it
penetrated a heavy overcast
to give early riSers an awesome
glimpse Of its power.
Canadian Surprised
Col. Norman Wilson-Smith
of Ontario. Canada, in charge
of the Canadian troops as
signed to the site, told a news
man that he thought the size
Of the blast was much greater"
than he had anticipated from
verbal descriptions and from
viewing films of similar explo-
sions. He said it illustrated
to him that 1.-The Canadian
army must gear itself to the
needs of atomic warfare"
Scientists said the blue light
was caused by the ionization of
nitrogen surrounding the fire.
ball and was intensified be-
cause of the darkness.
The mushroom cloud boiled
up to $4,000 feet before break
ing up. Winds varied con-
siderably in force and direc-
ton in the upper air. it was
reported. leading test officials
to predict that fallout would
be widely dispersed.
In addition to the military
maneuvers, elaborate civil de-
fense and scientific tests we're
conducted during and after the
blast.
300 Mice in Test
Three hundred mice we're
imprisoned in French and Ger
man-designed blast shelters
constructed in the desert at
varying ranges from the TOO
foot tower.
A contingent of fire chiefs
were on hand to test decon-
tamination procedures. Lifelike
dummies were exposed to the
blast to test the effects Of shock
waves on humans.
Psychological and sociological
studies of a force of picked men
from the 82d Airborne Division,
Fort Bragg, N. c., were Cancelled
when the men were moved from
the 4 500-yard advance posi-