Evening star. [volume], August 08, 1945, Page A-2, Image 2

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Historic Bomb Attack
Made by Crew of 8
In Super Fortress
fcj tfa« Associated Press. ,
GUAM (Delayed). — The historic
atomic bomb attack against Hiro
shima was carried out by a crew of
eight men from widely separated
home States and possessing varied
war records. A naval captain was
an observer.
The pilot of Ure B-29 which
dropped the immensely powerful
explosive fvas Col. Paul W. Tibbets,
Jr., of Miami, Fla. The mission gave
him another "first” on his eight
year record with the Army Air
Forces.
Maj. Thomas W. Ferebee of
Mocksville, N. C., served as bom
bardier and released the missile
which destroyed 60 per cent of the
southern Honshu city of 343,000.
Col. Tibbets and Maj. Ferebee are
graduates of the B-17 Flying Fort
resses.
Led Attack on Bizerte.
Col. Tibbetts led the formation
that was the first to bomb in the
invasion of North Africa. This at
tack was against Bizerte on No
vember 16, 1942. Before that he
flew nine missions against the Ger
mans from England and piloted the
firsj,, B-17 to cross the Channel on
a bombing mission of Nazi-occupied
France.
The colonel wears the Distin
guished Flying Cross with cluster,
the Air Medal with three clusters
and the Purple Heart. He attended
the University of Florida and the
University of Cincinnati. He is
married and has two small children.
Maj. Ferebee claims a first in
being the bombardier of Col. Tib
bets’ B-17 making the initial strike
against occupied Europe from Eng
land. He also was a crew member
of Col. Tibbets' plane which flew
Gen. Eisenhower and Gen. Clark to
Gibraltar to make final plans for
the invasion of North Africa.
Maj. Ferebee holds the Distin
guished Flying Cross, the Air Medal
with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters and five
Bronze Service Stars He partici
pated in 16 combat missions in Eu
rope and Africa. The son of Mr.;
and Mrs. W. S. Ferebee. he is not
married.
Other Crew Members Veterans.
Capt. Robert A. Lewis, Ridgefield, j
N. J.. served as co-pilot on the Hiro- j
shima bombing mission. The son j
of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Lewis j
of Ridgefield, Capt, Lewis has been j
in the service three and a half years, j
The Enola Gay was navigated
by Capt. Theodore J. Van Kirk,
Northumberland, Pa. He has been
four years in the service and holds
the Air Medal with 10 Clusters. He
navigated the lead plane in the first j
bombing attack against occupied Eu
rope August 17, 1942, and continued j
to fly out of Europe until October j
of that year, when he was trans- j
ferred to the North African cam-1
paign. He is married.
The other crew members:
Staff Sergt. Wyatt E. Duzenbury, j
Lansing, Mich., flight engineer. A|
•'eteran of three years in the serv-j
ice, he is married and has one son.!
Others on Mission.
Pfc. Richard N. Nelson, Los An-!
geles, radio operator. His parents,;
Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Nelson, live atl
the same address. He is single. j
Staff Sergt. George R Caron, Lyn- j
brook. N. Y„ tail gunner. A gradu-j
ate of Brooklyn Polytechnic Insti-j
tute, he is married and has a 2
month-old daughter.
Sergt. Joe A. Stiborik, Taylor, j
Tex., radar operator. He attended!
Texas A. and M. and is married.
Second Lt. M. U. Jeppson. elec-1
Ironies officer. His home town and!
other details are not available.
Observer on the flight was Naval!
Capt. William S. Parsons of Santa j
Fe, N. Mex. He is married and has!
two children.
Wife of Pilot 'Too Thrilled
For Words' on Exploit
COLUMBUS, Ga„ Aug. 8 (/Pi.— i
The wife of the man who flew the I
atomic bomb to the Japanese city I
of Hiroshima said last night she was;
"just too thrilled for words.”
But their 4-year-old son, Paul W.
Tibbets, 3d, had the words. He
blurted to a newsman, “I think my
daddy is a grand guy.”
The wife of the Super Fort pilot,
29-year-old Col. Paul W. Tibbets,
}r., is the former Lucy Wingate. She
and Col. Tibbets were married in
1938 while he was stationed at Fort!
Benning here.
Mrs. Tibbets, who is visiting her]
mother, Mrs. C. B. Wingate, was;
busy answering the telephone andj
receiving congratulatory messages |
from friends when a reporter lo- j
cated her.
"His father wanted him to be a
doctor,” she said. "And now look
what he's done.”
The Tibbets have one other child,
16-month-old Gene Wingate Tib
bets.
Parents of Bombardier
Impressed by Mission
MOCKSVILLE, N. C.. Aug. 8 </P).—
Mrs. W. S. Ferebee. mother of Maj.
Thomas W. Ferebee, bombardier on
the plane which dropped the atomic
bomb on Japan, said last night: “I
think it’s just grand that my son
had a part in the raid.”
She and Mr. Ferebee didn’t know
their son participated in the raid
until they were informed by the
Associated Press.
“We read yesterday about the
bomb,” Mrs. Ferebee said, "and we
had an idea he might have been in
on the raid.”
Mr. Ferebee, who couldn't hear
over the long distance connection,
said via his wife, "I’m proud of
Thomas and so glad he wasn’t hurt.”
Mrs. Ferebee is 53 and Mr. Fere
bee 54.
They live on a farm 7 miles from
Mocksville and have 11 children.
Former D. C. Man Named
Broadcasters' Official
A. D. (Jess) Willard, general
manager of the Columbia Broad
casting System's radio station WBT
in Charlotte, N. C„ and former head
of Station WJSV here before it was
changed to WTOP, has been named
executive vice president of the Na
tional Association of Broadcasters,
it was announced today.
Mr. Willard will assume his new
post November 1, NAB officials here
said. An Associated Press dispatch
from Charlotte said he will receive
a salary of $35,000 a year “to direct
the affairs of the home office of the
NAB in Washington.” Actually, it
was pointed out here, he will serve
es assistant to the president of the
broadcasters’ organization.
FIRST ATOMIC BOMB USE DESCRIBED BY PILOT—Col. Paul W. Tibbets, jr. (standing),
pilot of the B-29 which dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, tells of the experience at Army
Strategic Air Force headquarters on Guam. Left to right: Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Farrell, assist
ant to MaJ. Gen. Leslie R. Groves, officer in charge of the atomic bomb project; Rear Admiral
William R. Purnell, Gen. Carl Spaatz, Col. Tibbets and MaJ. Gen. Curtis E. Lemay. •
—AP Wirephoto by Navy Radio From Guam.
PFC. RICHARD N. NELSON,
Radio Operator.
MAJ. THOMAS FEREBEE,
Bombardier.
CAPT. ROBERT A. LEWIS,
Co-pilot.
—AP Wirephotos.
Hiroshima
(Continued From First Page.)
itself was rocked as if an antiair
craft shell had burst close by.
Crewmen Cry "My God."
Although all crew members were
wearing dark glasses, the “visual
impact” of the explosives’ great
flash was so tremendous that some
cried "My God” in sheer amaze
ment.
Gen. Spaatz, although disclosing
results of the world’s greatest wea
pon, made his initial announcement
simply in these words:
“Reconnaissance photographs
made over Hiroshima on the morn
ing of August 6 show that 4.1 square
COLUMBUS. GA.—Mrs. Paul W. Tibbets, wife of Col. Tibbets,
with her 4-year-old son Paul 3d (standing) and 16-month-old
son, Gene Wingate Tibbets, at the home of her mother here.
' —AP Wirephoto.
miles, or 60 per cent, of the city si
builtup area of 64 miles were com-i
pletely destroyed by the atomic:
bombing mission. Five major in-(
dustrial targets within this area
were destroyed. Additional c^amage
was shown outside the completely
destroyed area.”
There was no hint from USASTAF
when the next atomic bomb would
be dropped, but Washington and
London toyed with the theory that
Japan soon would be given a final
unconditional surrender ultimatum
before the next atom is dropped.
Gen. Spaatz did say that the Japa
nese would be warned by leaflet
that they could expect more such
! raids.
j Gen. Spaatz, obviousjy highly
elated, termed the new weapon “the
most revolutionary development in
the history of the world” and said
“it would have shortened the war
(in Europe) six to eight months.”
There would have been “no need,
to have had D-day in Europe” if the ■
bomb had been developed earlier,'
Maj. Gen. Curtis Le May, his chief i
of staff, said.
Capt. Eddie Rickenbacher, World
War ace, quickly predicted that:
aerial assaults alone would knock'
Japan out of the war.
But here on Guam, where the war
is very close and the amazing atom
is in the “I still can’t believe it”:
realm, some military personnel
adamantly maintained it would be
the infantry who would win event
ual victory, and on the ground.
The Navy Department, in an offi
cial statement, said “it is too early
yet to tell what effect the atomic
bomb will have on Japanese morale.
We may have to destroy four or five
cities before they actually believe
we have such a bomb.”
Dr. George Willard Watt, Univer
sity of Texas chemist who helped
develop the bomb, asserted it could
destroy “all life on Japan in a few
days • • • it may mean • • • that the
atomic bomb will be a threat com
pelling world peace.” He expressed
doubt that the Japanese could de
velop such a weapon to attack the
United States and pointed out that
Germany had failed to do so. al
though the Nazis had made a start.
Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Farrell,
Albany, N. Y„ another who helped
find a way to use the mighty atom,
disclosed that only last March a Nazi
atom bomb laboratory at Orienen
burg, Germany, was “completely and.
absolutely destroyed” by bombing.
He further said that the date
for the first atomic bombing was
Use of Atomic Bomb Is Cheaper
Thart TNT, Army Officer Says
By the Associated Press.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Aug. 8.—
The bombing of Hiroshima, Japan,
was not an "isolated case” and the
Army has available as much ma
terial for atomic bombs as it had
counted on at this time, Col. Ken
neth D. Nichols, superintendent of
the Manhattan Engineering District
where the ingredients of the missile
are made, said at a press conference
yesterday.
The colonel also told reporters
that atomic bombing is cheaper
than TNT as an explosive.
"Figuring the cost of the 2,000
bombers it would take to drop a
similar destructive charge, atomic
bombing is cheaper both in costs
and in men’s lives,’’ he said. “There
must be considered the number of
men that atomic bombing enables
to stay far behind the lines.”
Construction Continuing.
He also said construction is con
tinuing at Oak Ridge where. It was
disclosed Monday that the bomb Is
being manufactured at the Clinton
Engineer Works in what the Army
has designated as the Manhattan
Engineer District.
The 37-year-old colonel held the
first press conference of his life
in a room marked by a detailed
map of Japan, covering much of
one wall. He explained to the news
correspondents that scientific de
tails of the atomic bombs must re
main secret for the present.
“But what we have produced here
has done more to help end the war
than is shown in the expenditure
of *2,000,000,000,” he observed.
Safety Records High.
Col. Nichols said the safety rec
ords for the Manhattan district
was better than for Army engineer
ing construction as a whole, and
that discharges of personnel for se
curity reasons had been small.
Col. Nichols also commended the
hundreds of organizations and
thousands of workers who made
possible the utilinition of atomic
power against Japan.
Explaining that in normal times
research in physics and chemistry
would have led to the utilization of
atomic power in 16 or 20 years, the
colonel stated that combined efforts
of many workers and organizations
had compressed the time required
to three years. He said this saving
in time also had resulted in saving
money.
“The people and organizations—
scientific, engineering, contracting,
manufacturing, procuring and other
—working in harmony among them
selves and with Ooverment agencies
deserve unlimited credit for the
successful accomplishment of this
task,” Col. Nichols declared.
Among those Col. Nichols named
as having made contributions to the
development of the atomic bomb
was Lt, Col. R. W. Lockridge of
HyattsvBe, who is technical as
sistant to the area engineer at
Santa n, N. Mex. The laboratory
where tie bomb was assembled is
located ttear there.
set more than a year ago in order
to lay out a schedule for complet
ing the project, which cost $2,000,
000.000.
Pilot Tibbets and others on the
mighty atom-carrying B-29. named
the Enola Gay for Col. Tibbets’
mother, said the Hiroshima explo
sion was “tremendous and awe-in
spiring."
Although some details of the
atomic bomb have been disclosed,
many were withheld. Gen. Spaatz
answered many inquiries at a press
conference here "definitely no.”
Navy Cfcpt. William Sterling Par
sons, who designed the bomb and
made the Hiroshima flight as
“weaponeer,” said it was not con
trollable like an ordinary bomb, but
that he could give no details.
The Japanese said it was para
chuted, and that it exploded be
fore it reached the earth. There
was no confirmation here.
Draws No Ack-Ack.
The Enola Gay streaked across
the target without drawing any
antiaircraft fire.
Capt. Parsons said that after the
B-29 dropped the atomic bomb “we
made as much distance from the
ball of fire as we could.
“We were at least 10 miles away
and there was a visual impact even
though every man wore colored
glasses for protection. We had
braced ourselves for the shock and
Tibbets said ‘close flak' and it was
just like that—a close burst of anti
aircraft fire. * * •
“We stayed around two or three
minutes and by that time the smoke
had risen to 40,000 feet. The town
was entirely obscured."'
Only Col. Tibbets, Capt. Parsons
and the bombardier, Maj. Thomas
W. Ferebee. Mockville, N. C., knew
the secret of their mission.
Georgians Approve
New Constitution
By the Associated Press.
ATLANTA. Aug. 8.—Georgia has
voted itself a new constitutifin and
38-year-old Gov. Ellis Arnall has
chalked up another victory over
former Gov. Gene Talmadge.
Mr. Talmadge, long-time domi
nant figure in Georgia politics whom
Mr. Arnall defeated for the gover
norship three years ago, led the
opposition to the charter which the
voters approved yesterday.
Mr. Arnall, whose administration
has seen repeal of the poll tax, re
duction of the voting age to 18 and
penal and budgetary reform, said, be
fore the election, the vote would be
a “vote of confidence.”
The “streamlined” 25,000-word
document replaces the present con
stitution, adopted in 1877 and
amended 301 times since then.
The unofficial and incomplete re
turns from 119 of the 159 counties
showed 42,952 for adoption and
16,939 against.
Woman Who Showed
How to Split Atom
Unexcited by Blast
Sr the AiMciated Press.
STOCKHOLM, Aug. 8.—Dr. Lise
Meitner, the Austrian woman
mathematician whose name will be
linked in history with the atomic
bomb, was not particularly excited
about the news—at least, that was
her first reaction. t
She regards herself as a “pure
scientist,” the 17-year-old Dr. Meit
ner Indicated to the Associated
Press in an interview by telephone
from Leksand in Central Sweden,
near where she is vacationing in a
small boarding house.
Her sole interest in the atom, she
said, had -been “from a scientific
and theoretical standpoint.” And
she had no idea that her pioneer
ing work in the early ,1930s—which
shoved for the first time that the
uranium atom could be broken down
—would help in the development of
the most destructive explosive force
yet discovered.
Later in the Interview, however,
Dr. Meitner acknowledged that the
development of the atomic bomb
might have widespread effects on
the future oX civilization and said,
in her opinion, new elements and
energies would be released from
the atom through further experi
mentation.
Foresees Power Machine.
She forecast the development of a
"power machine," but said the
atom-splitting action would have to
be slowed down to something less
than the explosoin point before this
would be practicable.
In her early theoretical studies in
1935, she said, she and a German
scientist named Hahn "didn't think
at all about splitting the atom.”
But she conveyed the information
she and Hahn had collected to her
nephew, Dr. Otto Robert Frisch,
who began practical experiments.
Dr. Frisch later went to England
and in 1943 to the United States,
working for a time at an experi
mental atomic laboratory in Santa
Fe. N. Mex.
Dr. Meitner, who is Jewish, said
her own part in atomic experiments
virtually ended in 1938 when she
was forced to leave Germany and
facilities there because of Nazi anti
Semitic laws. She resumed atomic
work only a few months ago, she
said, at the Royal Swedish Academy
of Science where she is an experi
mental physicist.
OPA to Set Auto Prices
In About Two Weeks
By tbf Associat'd Presa^
The OPA has promised a decision
in about two weeks as to whether
prices for new passenger cars will be
higher than those of 1942.
Price Administrator Chester
Bowles late yesterday denied reports
the agency already has decided
against any price increase for most
manufacturers.
However, Mr. Bowles authorized a
spokesman to say there is no pos
sibility of an increase as high as 25
per cent This statement, it was ex
plained. was aimed at reports that
an increase of that size might be
allowed.
While ruling out that possibility,
the spokesman emphasised OPA has
reached no decision about prices lor
new models expected to go on sale
soon.
Mr. Bowles previously had said lie
expected most consumer goods to re
turn to the market at 1942 price ceil
ings. In saying this he did not ex
clude automobiles.
Even if OPA should allow manu
facturers an Increase, there is a pos
sibility retail prices of new cars
would be held at or near levels of
three years ago. This would be
achieved by requiring dealers to ab
sorb all or part of any price boost
granted to producers.
Justin Dart Refuses Offer
Of Ward's Presidency .
Bt thr Anfoelattd Prers.
BOSTON, Aug. 8 —Justin W. Dart,
president of United Drug. Inc., to
day refused an offer from Sewell
Avery to become president of Mont
gomery Ward Ac Co.
Mr. Dart, head of the drug mer
chandising, manufacturing and
chain store system at 37, said in a
statement:
“Because I can not properly
leave United Drug-Rexail at this
time. I have declined the Montgom
ery Ward proposal.
“I am grateful to Mr. Avery and
the Montgomery Ward directors for
their generous offer.”
The plan for Mr. Dart, fdhner
general manager of the Walgreen
Drug Store chain, to t^ecome head of
Ward’s was announced several
weeks ago by Mr. Avery.
Mr. Dart has been president of
United Drug, whose total sales
reached nearly $150,000,000 in 1944,
since late in 1943.
First Three Finalists Named
In Beauty Contest
The first three finalists in the l945
“Miss Washington” beauty and tal
ent contest were chosen last night at
the Atlas Theater, 1331 R street N.E.
They are Miss Betty Marie Staats,
18, of 1413 Staples street N.E., a
night club singer; Miss Trances
Manning, 30, of 3701 Forty-third
place S.E., a secretary for the Navy
League of the United States, and
Miss Mildred Kirke, 30, of 311 At
lantic street S.E., a secretary for a
local wholesale food broker. The
trio will be Interviewed over Station
WWDC from S to 8:15 pm. to
morrow.
Bomb News Surprises Even Men
At Base Where Plane Took Off
By the Associated Press.
GUAM, Aug. 8.—Thousands of
servicemen in the Marianas—take
off site of the first atomic bomb
dropped on Japan—received the big
news with awesome wonder.
The first news came in dispatches
radioed from San Francisco and was
a complete surprise to practically
every one on the three islands of
Guam, Tinian and Saipan.
Only a picked few knew exactly
what the special Sight to Hiroshima
meant to the world.
The atomic bomb was the center of
discussion at mess tables and offi
cers’ clubs where men tried to be
come scientific detectives to answer,
if possible, some of the questions
cloaked with top secrecy.
Navy News, with a circulation of
12,500 on Guam, devoted 3 inches
of the 14-inch first page to a three
line headline: “U. 8. Perfects, Al
ready Uses Atomic Bomb!”
Paralleling a Washington story
on President Truman’s announce
ment were two Associated Press
wire photos showing an aerial view
•f the Oak Ridge (Tenn.) factory
where the atomic bomb was de
veloped and a map with an arrow
pointing to Hiroshima.
The bulk of the four-page morn
ing paper was devoted to the atomic
bomb.
After the first reaction of sur
prise to the tremendous new force
unlocked by scientists, servicemen
and war correspondents asked
themselves what the atomic bomb
will mean in the future.
The genera] view was it was a
good thing Allied researchers de
veloped the bomb ahead of the Ger
mans.
Many felt that, although the j
deadly weapon would speed victory
in the Pacific, in the long run it
would be GI Joe who would still
have to go Into Japan to bring
about the decision.
1,000 in District Had Part
In Atomic’Bomb Production
More than 1,000 workers in the Dis
trict were part of the giant organi
zation that produced the atomic
bomb, it was disclosed today by the
War Manpower Commission and
contractors here who made parts,
either for production machinery or
bombs, but did not know what they
were producing.
Ernest V. Connolly, Washington
area director of the WMC, said 29
carpenters were sent to the Clinton
Engineer Works, near Knoxville,
Tenn., one of the two major produc
tion plants, early in November,
1943, and that last August and Oc
tober a total of 643 male workers
left for the Hanford Engineer
Works, near Pasco, Wash., another
major plant in the enterprise.
In addition, approximately 300
men were employed by contractors
or subcontractors who made parts
to go into either the production line
or the bombs themselves.
The Mehring & Hanson Co., 12
H street N£., started making parts
for the Manhattan Engineer Dis
trict, over-all name applied to the
atomic bomb project by the Army.
The company normally is a me
chanical contractor with a force of
about 35. But this was increased to
150 for the job. Mark P. Skinner,
plant manager, estimated today that
subcontractors had 100 more work
ing on the project. An example of
the subcontractors is William E.
Kingswell, Inc., 3707 Georgia avenue
N.W., which put about 50 workers
on the job for a time, according to
C. W. Marshall, superintendent.
Other subcontractors included No
land Co., Lofstrand Co., S. E. Dock
stader Co., H Sc H Machine Co.,
Southern Iron Co., J. & M. Aitchison
Co, H. C. McGrady Co., Harwood &
Nebel Co., Hajoco Corp., Thomas
Summerville Co., Washington Wood
working Co.. Park Transfer Co. and
Capital Tool Co.
Early Parley With Russians
On Bomb Predicted in London
By tl)e Associated Tress.
LONDON, Aug. 8,—New con
sultations by American, Russian
and British leaders on strategic
implications and methods of
control of the revolutionary
atomic bomb were forecast to
day by military experts.
These sources said development
of the new explosive already may
have outdated certain decisions
made at Potsdam and earlier con
ferences of the Big Three powers.
Such a destructive weapon, they
said, alters the importance of the
control of certain frontiers, ports,
rivers and mountains, and places an
entirely new aspect on many mat
ters of strategy and security.
The new British cabinet held a
lengthy, almost unprecedented night
meeting last night with military
chiefs wh« were cloeest to the di
rection of the British war effort.
Cabinet Holds Two Meetings.
The prolonged session, second of
the day for the cabinet, was be
lieved to have revolved around dis
cussion of the effects of the drop
ping of the first atomic bomb on
Japan.
Summoned to tne meeting by
Prime Minister Attlee were Gen.
Sir Hastings Ismay, who attended
Big Three conferences with Win
ston Churchill and remained with
Mr. Attlee at Potsdam after the
Chinese General Talks
With Soong in Moscow
By tbt Associated Press.
MOSCOW. Aug. 8.—A high-rank
ing Chinese military man. Gen
Hsiung Shih-hui, entered into dis
cussions at the Chinese Embassy
today with the delegation of Prem
ier T. V. Soong, who is here for talks
with Premier Stalin and other
Soviet officials.
, Chinese diplomatic circles were
much interested in the develop
ment.
(Gen. Hsiung headed the
Chinese military mission to
Washington in 1942 and was a
member of Generalissimo Chlang
Kai-shek's supreme war council
in 1937.)
However Gen. Hsiung, who is for
mer chairman of the Kiangsi pro
vincial government, was not present
at the talks between the Chinese and
Russians.
Five hours after his arrival from
Chungking, Premier Soong conferred
with Premier Stalin last night, sand
wiching the talk between interviews
with United States Ambassador W.
Averell Harriman, whom he planned
to meet again today.
Dr. Soong's interview with Premier
Stalin, continuing talks he had with
the Russian leader here before the
Potsdam Conference, was described
as “highly satisfactory" by Chinese
sources. The Japanese mission to
Moscow was reported to be exhibit-*
ing increasing nervousness.
Present at all of Dr. Soong's in
terviews was the new Chinese Fore
ign Minister. Wang Chih-Chieh.
17% Smaller Cotton Crop
Forecast for This Year
By tbt Auoeitted Presi.
The Agriculture Department today
forecast a cotton crop for 1945 of
10.134.000 bales of 500 pounds gross
weight based on information as of
August 1.
This would be 17 per cent, or
2.096.000 bales, less than 1944 pro
duction and 2,159,000 bales less than
average production for the 10-year
(1934-1943) period.
The indicated lint yield per acre
of 269.7 pounds is 39 pounds above
average and has been exceeded in
only three years—1944, 1942 and
1937.
Allowing for average abandon
ment of acreage in cultivation as of
July 1. the acreage for harvest this
year is computed at 18,034,000 acres
—10 per cent below acreage har
vested in 1944 and the smallest
during any of the past 60 years.
change In administration: Air Mar
shal Sir Charles Portal and Field
Marshal Sir Alan Brooke. Gen.
Ismay was head of Mr. Churchill's
wrar staff.
’ Meanwhile, the bomb was the one
big topic in diplomatic and mili
tary circles, among industrialists,
scientists and financiers, and with
the man in the street.
Sir John Anderson, lord presi
dent of the council in the wartime
government which directed British
scientists in atomic bomb research,
said in a broadcast that the per
fection of the bomb might be the
realization of a maniac dream of
death, destruction and dissolution”
unless it is handled in the future
with statesmanship of the highest
order.
"There could be no higher task
for statesmen of the United Na
tions gathered around a conference
table,” he said.
The Financial News said editorial
ly that the harnessing of atomic
forces "might be the first step
towards a new industrial era that
will mean complete realignment of
economic power between nations.”
Even permanent peace brought
about by universal fear of the atomic
bomb as a weapon would "pro
duce far-reaching economic conse
jquences,” the paper said, predicting
that it would allow governments to
keep their defense costs "at a lower
figure than would otherwise have
been necessary ”
Reverberations were felt on the
London stock market, where pros
pects of a shorter war against Japan
brought about a general show oi
strength in stocks.
Russia Show Interest
In Atomic Bomb News
MOSCOW. Aug. 8 The Rus
sians, who have made considerable
progress in atomic experimentation
expressed interest today in the new
atomic bomb, but first reports of its
;use against Japan were not pub
lished sensationally here,
j The U. S. S. R. has two scientists—
Peter Kapitsa of Moscow and Ab
raham Joffe of Leningrad—who
Ihave done far-reaching work in
latom splitting. .
The initial news of the bomb was
given by the Moscow radio home
service early yesterday and repeated
several times during the morning,
but not as one of the day's head
line news pieces. It was not men
tioned during the afternoon or eve
ning.
Morning and afternoon papers
carried yesterday the statement of
President Truman on the atomic
bombing, but there were no further
accounts in todays editions or on
the radio.
4-Year-Old Girl Dies
After Tooth Extraction
A 4-year-old child died yester
day in a dentist's office after having
a tooth pulled, police report. The
child, Marlene Hurvitz. daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Hurvitz, 724
Otis place N.W., had a malignant
tumor on the side of her face which
had loosened a tooth, according to
the dentist, Dr. Sterling V. Mead,
1149 Sixteenth street N.W.
“It was not an anesthetic death,"
Dr. Mead said. "The child had come
out of the anesthesia. She died of
shock.”
Coroner A. Magruder MacDonald
issued a certificate of accidental
death.
Plane Communicators
For U. S., Pacific Sought
Bj tte Associated Press.
The Civil Aeronautics Adminis
tration is seeking men and women
to fill jobs as aircraft communicators
in the United States, Alaska and
Pacific islands.
Salaries range from $2,414 for a
communicator trainee to $4,378 for
chief overseas communicator.
For the Alaska jobs. 20 per cent of
the communicators chosen for the
training may be man and wife with
out children.
Atomic Terms for Laymen
By HOWARD W. BLAKESLEE,
Associated Press Science Editor.
NEW YORK, Aug. 8—Here Is a
layman’s description of the scientific
terms which have been used in dis
cussions of the atomic bomb which
was dropped on Japan:
Atoms are the units of which all
matter is made. There are 92 differ
ent kinds of these atoms, one for
each of the 92 chemical elements.
These 92 elements range from hydro
gen, lightest In weight, to uranium,
which is the most massive. In be
tween lie carbon, tin. Iron, gold, ra
dium and all the other known sub
stances In the universe.
Same Kind ef Particles.
Every one of these 92 different
kinds of atoms is made of exactly
the same kind of small particles.
The only difference between one
atom and another is in the number
of particles. Hydrogen, for example,
nas three particles and uranium
more than 190.
The particles are electrons, which
an negative bits of electricity, pro
tons, which an positive bits of elec
tricity, and neutrons, which have
no electrical charges. Protons and
neutrons an nearly 2,000 times
heavier than electrons.
Every one of the 92 atoms is made
in the same pattern. Each one has
a center like the ran with electrons
circling around it as the earth and
other planets circle around the
sun. Die atom’s sun is mads up of
protons and neutrons. The particles
in each atom an held together by
' •
electrical attraction. These forces of
attraction are relatively tremen
dous. They are so great that it is
almost impossible to damage an
atom of any kind.
Electricity Does Work.
Splitting or smashing ‘ an atom
means an attempt to knock out some
of its electrical or non-electrical
particles. This splitting is done by
directing rays of millions of volts in
electrical energy against atoms as
targets. The rays usually are made
of some of the particles that com
pose an atom, that is either elec
trons, protons or neutrons. Some
times x-rays will damage an atom.
Smashing an atom is a misnomer.
Atcms are so tough that no atom
has ever been smashed by human
means. The best that has been
done has been to knock a few of the
particles out of an atom like chips
chopped out of a tree.
Only one atom has ever been split.
That atom is uranium 235. Uran
ium atoms when bombarded by the
ri^ht kind of neutrons break into
two nearly equal parts.
When uranium splits, some of the
electrical attraction that held it to
gether is given off in the form of
electrical voltage. That voltage is
the energy which makes the pres
ent atomic bomb. Whenever the
smaller chips that are knocked otf
from the other atoms break loose,
the electrical energy that held them
in the atom is released in the
form of electrical voltage. But in
all of this chipping, only small
amounts of energy are obtained.
Plane Bearing Body
Of Maj. Bong Arrives
At Duluth Airport
By the Associated Pres*.
SUPERIOR, Wis., Aug. 8 —A 054
four-engine transport bearing the
body of Maj. Richard I. Bong, win
ner of the Congressional Medal of
Honor and most of the other dec
orations of valor a grateful Na
tion could bestow, arrived at the
Duluth (Minn.) airport today after
an overnight flight from Long
Beach, Calif.
Maj. Bong, America's top ace, was
killed Monday in California, when
his jet-propelled Shooting Star ex
ploded.
Aboard the plane were the youth
ful, grief-stunned widow; her broth
er, Jerome Vattendahl, and Maj.
Earl Kingsley, Maj Bong’s buddy
of cadet days. Col. K. C. McGregor,
commanding officer of the 6th Ber
rying Group, was honorary pilot
and head of an escort of seven
majors and a colonel, all combat
pilots. Also aboard was Mrs. Clar
ence Tby, wife of Maj. C. J. Toy of
the Western District Air Technical
Command.
Funeral services were planned this
afternoon at the Concordia Luther
an Church in Superior with the
Rev. Arvid F. Hoorn of Poplar s
Bethany Lutheran Church officiat
ing. It was at the Superior Church
that Maj. Bong was married last
February 10.
At the airport, the Asket was
lowered to the ground by a hydraulic
device which the Army flew in from
Wilmington, Del., in another trans
port.
During the morning 27 transport
planes bearing military personnel
arrived at the Superior and Duluth
Airports. Brig. Gen. C. B. -Saville
of Washington was delegated by the
War Department to make final ar
rangements. A column of Army
trucks from Camp McCoy, Wis.. met
the cortege and escorted it to
Superior.
Six Douglas County servicemen
home on leave, all schoolmates and
boyhood friends of Maj. Bong, will
be pallbearers.
Senator Wiley Proposes
'Living Memorial' to Ace
Establishment of a "living me
morial'’ to the late Maj. Richard I.
Bong of Poplar, Wis.. was proposed
today by Senator Wiley, Republican,
of Wisconsin.
Such a memorial. Senator Wiley
suggested, might be the naming of
a Wisconsin airport after the hero.
The accomplishments of Maj.
Bong, he said, ‘‘have thrilled and
inspired all our people. All Amer
ica mourns his untimely death.”
Three Vinson Aides
Moved to Treasury
'■ By the Associated Press.
Three new assistants to Secretary
of the Treasury Vinson have been
named, but the new Secretary has
not yet begun any reorganization
i of the departments top officials.
The new assistants, whose titles
have just been assigned, all have
i been with Mr. Vinson in his last
1 three assignments. Treasury officials
said they have not yet been told
what their functions will be. Mr.
Vinson still is studying the depart
ment and no ijnportant official from
| the Morgenthau regime has yet left
| the department.
The new assistants, making 10 In
all. are: Paul Kelly. 40, of Ashland,
Ky.: Edward F. Prichard, jr., 30, of
Paris, Ky., and Wilbur R. Lester,
30, of Kewanee, 111.
Mr. Kelley has been with Mr.
I Vinson more than 10 years, becom
ing his secretary when Mr. Vinson
was a Representative from Ken
tucky. When Mr. Vinson was di
rector of War Mobilization and Re
; conversion Mr. Kelley was a special
assistant.
Mr. Prichard has been general
[ counsel of the Office of War Mobili
zation and Reconversion. He was
with the Office of Economic Stabil
1 ization when Mr. Vinson became
; director in 1943 and has been asso
ciated with him since.
Mr. Lester became a law clerk to
Secretary Vinson in 1940 when the
latter was a justice of the United
States Court of Appeals here. He
went to the Justice Department in
1941 and joined Mr. Vinson again
in 1943 at the Office of Economic
Stabilization.
Santa Marta Arrives'
With 215 Veterans
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Aug. 8.—The troop
ship Santa Marta arrived today
with 215 veterans, most of them
members of the 1.927th Ordnance
Ammunition Company of the 9th
Air Force.
Two other troopship# arriving
are the William H. Jackson, with
416 men, and the Paul Hayne, with
21.
Also included among the personnel
of the Santa Marta were elements
of the 199th. 201st and 202d Laun
dry Detachments of the Quarter
master Corps.
At Boston, the Examiner ts due
today with the 303d Signal Company
Wing, 196th Quartermaster Laundry
Detachment, 459th, 468th, 469th,
470th, 471st and 472d Military Police
Patrol Detachments; 700th Military
Hospital Ship Platoon, Infantry Re
organization Detachment "C,” Infan
try Reorganization Detachment "K.”
4 Ships Due to Reach
Newport News Today
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Aug. 8
OP).—Four ships were scheduled to
bring in 1,418 soldiers today at the
Hampton Roads port of embarka
tion in Newport News.
Another vessel, the I. MacDoweU,
was due at Cape Henry at 6 pjn.
and probably win not debark to
night. There are 736 servicemen
aboard her, 15'
Those due today in time^lb 'un
load were the Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow with 512 aboard; the
George Chamberlain with 144 ro
tational troops, Marion M. Bovard
with 750 men aboard and the George
Farley with a group of 12. -V
The I, MacDoweU with a passen
ger list of 736 an dthe Blue Ridge
Victory with 1,970 men from various
units of the 86th Mountain In
fantry Regiment, were due at Cape
Henry tonight but are scheduled
to debark Thursday, Also due in
Thursday are the William S.
Young, 741; the John Hawthorn,
748, and the William Tawle. 721,
Units aboard these ships were re
ported yesterday.
On Friday the William D. Mose
ley with 743 soldiers and the Le
grande Victory with 1,920 aboard,
are scheduled.