ATOMIC BOMB

Leinster Leader, August 9, 1945

ATOMIC BOMB

Atomic energy is being used – against – for the first time in the history of the war. President Truman, on Monday, disclosed that Japan had been struck by an atomic bomb 2,000 times more powerful than the ten-tonners dropped by British planes on Germany, and that several plants in America are turning out the new secret weapon.

American and British scientists have been working on it for five years, out of reach of German long-range weapons. V-1 and V-2 were the forerunners of the atomic bomb, but lost the war before her scientists attained this goal. Describing the bomb as a “harnessing of the basic power of the universe,” President Truman said its power has been used against those who brought war to the Far East .”

They spent $2,000,000,000 (about £500 millions) on the greatest gamble in history and had won. “It was to spare the Japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of July 26^th was issued from Potsdam ” the President stated. “Their leaders promptly rejected that ultimatum. If they don’t accept our terms, they may expect a rain of ruin from the air the like of which has never been seen on this earth.

“Behind this attack will follow land and sea forces in such numbers as they have not yet seen, and with a fighting skill of which they have already become aware.”

Following President Truman’s announcement a statement from Mr. Attlee said that research on the atomic bomb was carried out in Oxford, Cambridge London, Liverpool and Birmingham universities, and a special directorate had been formed – called for the purposes of secrecy, the “department of kube alloys.”

Coverage from the Leinster Leader of the Atomic Bombs in Japan in August 1945. Retyped by Aisling Dermody.