May Do Damage Among
p. 16 · Read in the full issue
Blasts By Atomic
Bombs
May Do Damage Among the Atolls
T HE possibility that United States experiments with the atomic bomb, this year, in the Marshall Islands neighbourhood, will do much damage to the equatorial atolls was emphasised in a letter in the “Sydney
Morning Herald,” by a man formerly
well known among the Line Islands : I HAVE noted, in connection with the atomic bomb experiments, that they are to be carried out in the Marshall Islands. Unless I have misunderstood the press notice, the Americans wish them carried out that distance from their shores for fear of reactions deleterious to their country and to them.
I have also read that it is anticipated that a wind approaching 1,000 miles per hour will be created, and a tidal wave of about 100 ft. high.
I have waited to see if anyone had the welfare of the Pacific Islanders living in the Marshall, Gilbert and Ellice Groups sufficiently at heart to ask what will be the position of these unfortunate people if these experiments are carried out.
None of the islands in the three above mentioned Groups are more than about six feet out of the water at high tide; and in 1905, when a small tidal wave passed along the southern Marshall Islands, it completely overwhelmed the Island of Milli. and did tremendous damage on other atolls.
The disaster which could take place would be too awful to contemplate. Should any of the people be still alive after the wind and tidal wave have passed they probably would not have a coconut tree left, nor would there be much likelihood of any fish living within the vicinity of the Islands.
As one who traded among those islands for over a decade, and knowing how much the British Government has done to help these people in the past, I feel confident that Britain will, before it is too late, take steps to see that these people are simply not wiped off the face of the earth, so that American theories may be proved. (EDITORIAL NOTE: It is very un likely that the Americans deliberately would do anything to cause destruction and loss of life, in the manner suggested There are plenty of ocean areas, in the centre of the Northern Pacific, or in the south-east of the Southern Pacific, where tempests and tidal waves could do no harm. A tidal wave could do enormous damage among the equatorial atolls. A reassuring statement by the United States Navy would be welcome.) Mr. V. Neumann, who gave distin guished service in the Allied Intelli gence Bureau in 1942-43, and who later served for 21 years in ANGAU, passed through Sydney in January, en route to headquarters of the Australian-Lutheran Mission, at Horsham, Victoria. In civil lifer Mr. Neumann is a Lutheran mis sionary; and, when the Jap invasion came, he was manager of the Lutheran Mission plantation at Gizirum, Rooke Island, New Guinea. He expects to re turn to his work in the Territory soon.