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ATOM BOMB EXPERT DIS
COUNTS PROBABLE DAMAGE
FROM BLASTS'
The atom bomb no longer appears
to be the 'absolute weapon,' as for.
merly supposed, states an article in
The Readers' Digest for Augus6. Yet
its true dangers, now apparent, will
influence future business expansion
programme and the .appearance of
cities.
The Digest article, condensed
from U.S. News and World Report,
givos the major conclusions of Dr.
It. E. Lapp, atomic expert, on tho
probable damage from atom bomb
bursts in a -future war. Dr. Lane
is author of Must We Hide? and
has been adviser on atomic defence
to tho U.S. Office of Civil Defence
Planning. ? He witnessed both Bik
ini tests.
The big- danger lies in the high
concentration of people and indus
try in large cities, Lapp holds. In
the United States, for example, New
York's '21,000 people per square
mile make that city an ideal target.
Death toll in the heart- of Now York
could reach 200,000 from a single
air : burst. Los Angeles, with only
3000 per square mile, would be less
attractive to atom bombardiers
Heavy damage from a. harbor explo
sion is discounted; so are the ef
fects of a bomb smuggled in by a
saboteur and exploded at ground
level.
Lapp sees partial defence against
the bomb as possible. Redesigning
cities is the best insurance, he be
Jieves. Segments of the planned
city of the future, such as business
areas,' homes and parks,- should^ be
separated by about three miles, as
the present bomb cauuot damage
buildings more5 ,thau three miles
from its burst. I
Ruling out underground cities or
factories as 'far ; too expensive/'
Lapp contends that an adequate
warning system and inexpensive shel
ters could cut .casualties by 90 per
cent. Six feet1 of moist earth or
32 inches of concrete will insure
survival, even , close. to the burst.
Lt.-Gen. W. B. Smith, retired
U:S. ambassador to Russia, believes
the Russians know all the scientific
facts about the bomb,' the article
says. — From The Readers Digest
for August.
$