The Daily Alaska Empire

Russ Missiles
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Us Claims
Navy:
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 11.-(AP) Navy weapons expert told Congress today that Russia likely has guided missiles able to find and knock down bombers above 40,000 feet.

Capt. J. H. Sides said German rocket secrets fell into Russian hands after the war, and that it would be "folly" to gamble U. S. security on the atom bomb and big bombers alone.

Had the war lasted a year longer, Sides said the U. S. bombers would no longer have been able to fly over Germany without prohibitive losses from German anti-aircraft rockets.

Russia Got Designs

These Nazi anti-aircraft developments designed to search out and destroy raiders traveling 485 miles an hour at 65,000 feet, fell into Russian hands "lock, stock and barrel," Sides said.

The Russians have had plenty of time to get them into production, he said, adding:

"Over four years have elapsed since then.
It is foolhardy for us to think of an aggressor's anti-aircraft defenses now, in terms of 1945 equipment."

Sides is deputy assistant chief of Naval Operations. He testified before the House Armed Services Committee hearing naval charges that defense chiefs are over-concentrating on an "obsolete" B-36 bomber.

Guided Missiles

Whether or not the Russians now have these guided missiles in production, Sides said, a revolutionary change in anti-aircraft defenses is certainly not far distant.

Even before some big bombers now on order can be delivered, Sides declared, this country will have guided missiles able to find and knock down bombers above 40,000 feet.

Before hearing Sides, the committee had brief new discussion with Comdr. Eugene Tatom about how deadly is the A-bomb. Tatom cited medical reports on the Hiroshima blast to back up his contention that it is not as deadly as the public thinks.

Statistics Don't Jibe

But under questioning, Tatom agreed that all available statistics do not jibe. And he said that anyway he isn't an atomic expert.

Tatom is the Navy man who surprised the committee yesterday by saying a man could stand at one end of the Washington National Airport and come unscathed through an atomic blast at the other end of its 6,800-foot (about one mile and a third) runway.

His testimony was part of the Navy's general attack on the military policy of putting so large an investment into the Air Force B-36 bomber-a plane designed to fly from one continent to another and carry an A-bomb.

Navy's Argument

In brief, the Navy's argument is that Russian defenses could stop most B-36 efforts and that planes which did get through likely would
not accomplish anything decisive by dropping A-bombs from 40,000 feet.

Secretary of Defense Johnson has asked the committee to hear him before it gets through digging into the Navy-Air Force controversy.

In a letter making the request, he also said that the scrap could do "grave damage to our national security."

Johnson suggested, too, that the committee seek the military unification views of former President Herbert Hoover, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and the chiefs of staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Chairman Vinson (D-Ga) said Johnson would be heard. As to the others, he did not commit himself but said he wants to hear top military officials and Secretary of Air Symington.