STATSMSN?T OF a GSNERAL JOHN E. HULL, COMVANDER, JOINT Task At PRESS CONFEATNCE, Qe,“USA RFC, FORT SHAPTSR, T FORCE SEVEN, He, 1 8 NAY ioaa. coint Task Force Scven has successfully campleted its on as assigned by the Joint Chicfs of Staff. ucl in charactcre First, This mission 2% was the mission of the Task Farcc pstruct an atomic onergy proving sround for the Atomic ergy Cormission at Eniiwetckte Sceordly, it was required that we t the ANC in the conduct of the first scrics of tests of ic weapons during the months of april snd May. The Task Fores had completed the construction of the proving eroune by April, in timc vo permit ths conduct of the tests as sehcdulede In xscncral, this Involved the construction and rchabilitation of housing and living facilitics fornee scicntific group and Tor traons.e “Installation of utilitics,, tor, power, end communications was require4 Sortunatcly,we were avis to use existing structures, eft Sver from the war, mostly cuonsete- type buildings, at the proving sround Tor housing personnel and for storage and work shops; aftcr repairs, of course. Some equipment was ropsirablo, for instance refrigerating coaulpment. Considerable savinss resulted from thece crforts. It was neccssary to repair air strips t. permit the landing of heavy planes Including C-34's, 2-c9's end Bel7's. Lancing facilitics for small watcr craft hag to be provided, although cargos hed to be offloaded on lighters from the transport ships. Construction af the eetusal testins ground involved special construction for tne nlacement end t 4. Fou ~ - }. art of vericus scientific instruments oc a ua Pricrt These tests had no kinship to th. Sikini tests, the purpose of which was to tess the effect an maval ceculpment and other materials as well as animrl and marine life. In the words of she directive giver ta the Comeancer of Joint Task Foree Onc, the purpose of the Eikini test was to determine "the effects of atomic cxplosives against naval vessels in srdcr to. appraise the stratcsi implications of atemic bombs Including the rcsults on naval design and tactics.” underwatcr test The Charlic. we Gid not conduct the postponed tests of Oncraticon Sancstone were Literally and truly ficld laboratory tests, designed ta determinc how the hombs now under Gevelopmrent by the United Statcs would work and to detcrmine their efficiency. we did Just that. We g>t our answers. We likcd the answers. These wnswers belong to the United States Government and, natursliy, arc nat for puplicatione It can be said, however, that the bomos worked. “We Lave proved the weapondevelopment work dune by the Los Alamos Seientifie Laboratory during the pest two yoarse This job which we nave just compictcd was begun on 3 april 1947 when the Generel Adviscry Committcc of the Atomic Encreg Commission concurred in the recommencation of the Los “lamos