Letters, Dec. 9, 1946

  • The Atomic Dessert

    Sirs:

    The recent picture of Admiral and Mrs. Blandy and Admiral Lowry cutting a cake made in the form of an atomic underwater explosion [TIME, Nov. 18] gave wide publicity to the unusual views of the Rev. A. Powell Davies, Unitarian pastor of a "fashionable Washington church." As published ... it did a great injustice to Admirals Blandy and Lowry, who have been tireless in their efforts to tell the citizens of the world of the devastating power and insidious poison of the atomic bomb. . . .

    Admiral and Mrs. Blandy and Admiral Lowry were not the hosts but were the guests of honor at a party given by Officers of the Crossroads staff. They had no part in the planning or procurement of the cake.

    DAVID H. BLAKELOCK Colonel, U.S.A. FITZHUGH LEE Captain, U.S.N. Washington

    Sirs:

    . . . Utter astonishment could not describe my feelings when I read the tirade let loose by a Washington minister at two men who contributed such a large part in the defeat of our enemies. He would "damn to hell" these men; he would call down the wrath of God on these men were he a medieval priest; he would put in torment their souls for their base, utter disregard of all the principles of humanity. . . . Who is he? This minister might just as well damn every Air Corps officer, every bombardier, every flame-throwing private, every machine gunner and every rifleman to everlasting hell for using a weapon as destructive as the one he carried in defense of his country. . . .

    Personally, it is my belief, and I am sure the belief of the majority of servicemen, that the atomic bomb accomplished at the proper moment a complete demoralization of the Japanese and led to ultimate surrender, thus saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of American men who would otherwise have been lost. God grant that we might have had this bomb at the start of the conflict. God grant that this nation have such a weapon as this if & when our enemies feel the time is ripe to strike another blow at Freedom and mankind. . . .

    J. N. TALBOTT

    Lieutenant Commander, U.S.N.R. Philadelphia

    Fatback & Bristles

    Sirs:

    This is eating humble pie. The evening of the day I wrote the "fatback" letter [TIME, Nov. 18], out of a clear sky, my mother-in-law complained of no fatback with which to season greens. The good wife and I almost fainted. It was the first time either of us had ever heard the word used. . . .

    On reading it first in TIME, I took it to be a bit of South-baiting, a habit I think TIME sometimes has, and which makes my bristles rise. So, I rose for the bait, and took it, hook, line, sinker & all.

    Let me congratulate you; it was a well-chosen word, aptly used. For my back bristles, a rubbing with ashes on a cornshuck mop.

    Groesbeck, Tex. FRANK BRYAN

    -I For a manful apology, TIME'S fellow-suffering thanks to Reader Bryan.—ED.

    Freedom & Truth Sirs:

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