ATOMIC BOMB TEST

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24914, 29 June 1946, Page 7

ATOMIC BOMB TEST

Everything Ready At Bikini EXPERIMENT ON MONDAY (N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) NEW YORK. June 27. Everything is ready for Monday’s atomic bomb test at Bikini, although lowering clouds and intermittent rain seem to hold out little promise of suitable climatic conditions. Scientists, however, are confident that fine weather is in the offing. In Bikini lagoon, Vice-Admiral W, P. H. Blandy’s huge staff has put everything in readiness, and a large “guinea pig” fleet is riding at anchor waiting for annihilation by blast, heat, pressure, nuclear disintegration or a combination of all of them. Scientists admit that thev are still dealing large-

ly in the unknown. It is for this reason that about 150 aeroplanes have, been dispersed throughout the Marshalls. There is a group of super-For-tresses fitted with almost every known radiological measuring instrument which will stalk 60,000 feet high Into death-filled cloud to warn any inhabited spot within its path until it has dispersed. Sixty thousand feet is the estimated ppper limit of the cloud which will arise in a believedly mushroom shape following the explosion, and it is no rumour to say that the cloud will be filled w|th death in a variety of forms, some of them still unknown to medical science. The cloud, which will, it is believed, reach its upper limit in a few minutes. will be 16 miles ip diameter. Aeroplanes will “ride” on the cloud while daylight lasts, and afterwards destroyers, likewise equipped with detector instruments, will take up the job throughout the night. Biologists, zoologists, and medical men are chiefly interested' in the unlucky farmyard which Is an important part of the experiment. It consists of 200 pigs, 200 goats. 4000 rats, and 1200 mice with a high to low predilection to cancer. Some of the goats have their hair clipped to about the length of human hair and some are being protected with anti-flash cream and clothing. The rats and mice all had an accurate blood count made and any survivors will have another when the test is completed. As part of the same physiological experiment variotis vaccines, viruses, toxins, antisera, bacteriophages, hormones. and vitamins will also be exposed.

Admittedly the experiment is designed primarily as a military and naval experiment and it is perhaps a sinister presage for the future that it is fairly evident that it is the scientists and not the admirals and generals who will learn most from the Bikini tests.