In a Blue Lagoon

Are navies obsolete? Can a single atomic bomb attack destroy a billion-dollar surface fleet? Chronically optimistic airmen (who will drop the bombs) think so. Brassbound Navymen hold that atomic explosives are just another weapon: they may modify but they will not wipe out their seagoing fortresses and flying fields. This week, top Army & Navy ordnance men and atomic bombers were down to the i-dotting stage on plans to settle the question.

Two tests will be necessary: 1) upon a fleet at anchor in shallow water, where divers could go down later to examine the hulls of sunken ships; 2) upon a fleet in deep water. Both are extremely difficult to arrange. In neither case can the ships be manned. The shallow water test must be made where no coastal lands will be affected; it must be far from important fishing grounds and from ocean currents which might carry radioactive water to populated shores.

Clearly indicated was the lagoon of some remote atoll. Likely choices: Ulithi, in the western Carolines; Bikar, in the northern Marshalls, or Pokaakku (Taongi) between Bikar and Wake.

Months of work have gone into the preliminary plans; more must go into the organization of the great fleet which will include 40 or more sacrifice ships. There is no dearth of expendable craft, from $50,000,000 battleships (25 years old) and even more valuable carriers, to enemy vessels such as the German heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen.

So far, there had been a fine show of high-minded cooperation between the services. But no one doubted that the emotional explosion would come after the atomic shock waves had died away. Said the Navy's No. 1 ordnance man, Vice Admiral W. H. P. ("Spike") Blandy, chairman of the planning committee: "I have no illusions; there will be controversy later."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.