NEW HAZARD REVEALED

Chronicle (Levin), 5 July 1946, Page 5

NEW HAZARD REVEALED

BllvlXI Jul.v 3. I Tlie Prinz Eugen, lying about a mile from tlie spot where tlie atomic bomb feil, sull'ered tlie greatest damag. tlirougli oue ventilator, 12 imdies in diaineter, whieh was unintentionallv left open. Tlie atomic bomb exerteil such terrific pressure that it bowed the lmlkheads almost into a semi-circle, causing tlie warship litore daniage than it sull'ered during the war. The Associated Press correspondent says that had liumans been aboard the Prinz Htigen at the time of tlie blast, tliey would liave been pelted with siuali metal balls about tlie size of liirdshot Thousands of tliese pellets fell on the Prinz Kugen 's deeks. They were stili rudio active and were washed overboard todny with a liose. The scientists are puzzled about the source of the pellets which are an entirely uew atomie bomb liazard for [lersonnel. Some suggested they were pieces of tlie bomb itself, but if that were true, it is surprisiiig. because it was believed that the bomb metal was vapourised. Tlie Russian scientist, Professor Simyon Alexaudrov, suggested that an nther atomic bomb experiuient. shoul'l be condueted iu the air before the u'nderwater test is held. "The Bikini test was I'oiiducted brilliantlv and the explosion was obviouslv terrilic, but tlie air blast was rather weuk. Oliserver--have little date on whicli to draw con clusions, " he said.