FNateal
We Are Not Helpless in Attack
During the five years since the
first atomic bomb was exploded
over Hiroshima, a frightened world
has been led to believe by some of
the more articulate atomic scientists that ‘“‘there is no defense
against the atomic bomb” and that
“none will ever be devised.”
As long as we were the sole
possessors of the atomic bomb,
with the further assurance that it
would take Russia several years to
make one, this
dictum
served
,
Unfortunately, the volume has
been prepared ‘“‘as a source of scientific information for technical
. personnel engaged in civil de. fense,’’ and as such is not for the
average layman. In this, and subsequent articles, the essential data
will therefore be presented in non-
' technical language.
-
By wayof introduction let it be
said, first, that there is nothing
about atomic energy and atomic
weapons that is beyond the grasp
of the average layman, and, secsecurity.
ond, unreasoned fear that might
The announcement that Russia
lead to mass hysteria could prohad tested her first atom bomb at
duce more damage to life and
least three years ahead of time,
property, and. more important, to
followed by a few months with the
spiritual values, than anv number
Communist attack on South Korea,
of atomic bombs.
has changed the picture to the
In fact, a well-organized civilian
point where many of our people
are in danger of succumbing to a . defense against a possible atomic
attack, added to an efficient milisense of helplessness against a potary defense. is the best possible
tential atomic attack.
deterrent against such an attack.
The publication by the Defense
To understand the fundamental
Department and the Atomic Ener- ©
principle underlving the atomic
gy Commission of the most authorbomb,
including also the hydrogen
itative volume yet to appear on the
bomb. one must have a general
effects of atomic weapons and the
concept of the relationship that
measures that may be taken to
exists between what we know as
counteract, or at least greatly to
matter and energy, the two asminimize, their effects, therefore,
must be regarded as one of the . pects in which the material universe
manifests
itself
to
our
largely to
generate
a
sense
of
most important official documents
senses.
in recent years.
In his famous relativity theory
It possibly is more important, in
Albert Einstein demonstrated that
fact, than the hastv publication a
matter and energy were two diffew days after Hiroshima of the
ferent manifestations of one cosSmyth Report. which many today
mic entity, that matter was energy
believe was a Serious mistake that
‘in
the frozen state, while, congave Russia much valuable inforversely,
energy was matter in the
mation.
fluid state, the two states being
Handbook for Survival
interchangeable.
In
a
famous
This new volume may properly
mathematical formula he revealed
be given the subtitle “Handbook
that one gram of matter reprefor Survival Against Atomic Atsented in the frozen state the
tack,” for it gives the basic data
enormous total of 25,000,000 kiloessential for the planning and
watt-hours of energy.
building of an effective civilian deFrom
this
we
learned
that
fense
against
potential
atomic
whenever energy in any form was
bomb attacks, whether they come | liberated, such as, for example. by
by air or by water.
the burning of coal or oil, a small