UNITED STATES HAS NEW ATOMIC WEAPONS

Chronicle (Levin), 4 December 1947, Page 5

UNITED STATES HAS NEW ATOMIC WEAPONS

Received Wecmesday, 7 p.m.

NEW YOKK, Dec. 2. America is now producing new atomic weapons from bota uranium and plutoiuum, said Mr. David E. Lilieutliai, chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission. He told the American Society of Mechanical Engineers at Atiantic City: "Both of these products are used for atomic weapons in current production and under design at the Commission 's laboratories." Mr. Lilienthal did not explain whether the new weapons are bombs such as were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaxi or represent a new military apylication of atomic power. Such detaiis are classed as "secret". The weapons are being assembled at the isolated Los Alamos, New Mexico, laboratories where the first bornb was produced. The Government has never confirmed any reports concerning the nature of the contents of atomic bombs which had been exploded in the past but it is known they can be made either of uranium 235 or of plutonium, a man-made element produced from uranium. Mr. Lilienthal said America has spent about 2,500,000 dollars oq atomic enterprise and added: "If this country really means business then, within the next several years, this total expenditure wui mcrease to approximately 5,000,000,000 dollars. ' '