KNOWLEDGE THE FIRST ATOM BOMB
THE FIRST ATOM BOMB Three weeks had passed since the two atomic bombs had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but we still knew practically nothing about the fate of the devastated towns or of the innumerable victims. The American wireless had broadcast a very great deal about the preparations made for the use of the new weapon and about its extraordinary power, but information concerning the effects of atomic bombardment was limited to the horrible prophecy' for seventy years at least the radio-activity of the earth around the scene of the explosion will prevent all forms of life from existing there' The Americans I had met the evening before on board the Benevolence had all fallen silent the moment I had mentioned the word 'Hiroshima'. When they questioned me about Japan they carefully avoided all mention of it, and when I uttered the word I think we all felt an indefinable sense of discomfort. For different reasons the Japanese also maintained complete silenc...