TEST OF ATOMIC WEAPONS IN PACIFIC

Chronicle (Levin), 25 July 1947, Page 5

TEST OF ATOMIC WEAPONS IN PACIFIC

Rpcpived Tliiirsdiiv, 7 p.m. WADDINGTON, July 23. TliH l*iiit«l Ntatos Atoniic Enorgv Commission statcil tonight tliiit it was establishing pniving grinimls in llu? Faeilic for pvpi'riiiUMits and tcsts of atoniic weapnns. The cominission refnsed to eialicuatc 011 the aiinouneenieiit liut. observers r'ei-alled that last May the Arinv and Xavv were experimenting with lailioacl ive clouds which could he released from aircraft to drift over a grcat area. The conuuission '> report, which was presented to Cnugress. also stateil that it is speculative at this stage of development to estiniate how Jong it will be until atoniic power production units fertsible for large scale commercial use, will be available. The estalilishment of proving grounds in the I'acitic is reyarded by observers as being loaded wifii signilicance for the security of United States. They point otit that proving grounds located 011 some. reniote island or islands in the vast reaches of the 1'acific would assure nol only serrerv but also safety in testing weapons which would be (iungerous in populated ureas. It is iielieved the project will be a pennancnt installation like the atoniic lionib factorv at L"* Almos, Xew Mexico, and that the Army and Xavy Air Forces will participate in the enterprlse.