BOMBS AT BIKINI 



peted and air-conditioned room, Admiral Blandy and 

 his deputies would confer for an hour or two. Problems 

 weve presented and comments were invited from all 

 present. In each instance Admiral Blandy or his Chief 

 of Staff would make a summary as to the agreed-on- 

 course and designate one man to take the necessary 

 action.* 



Between formal meetings there were innumerable 

 informal meetings. Staff officials whether from Army 

 or Navy were given adjacent offices so that they could 



* The author and other civilians present found these meetings 

 impressive, both in their democratic method of procedure and 

 the quick avaiJ^hility of facts. Almost never did an officer have to 

 consult notes, or ask to get the information later. Usually, he had the 

 answers at the tip of his tongue; and if he did not, he was flanked 

 hy one or two junior officers instantly ready to cite case and num- 

 ber. Again, since representatives of all Service groups were present, 

 almost no question was outside the scope of the meeting. 



One mildly humorous case of failure to obtain straight-off a 

 useful answer Jias stuck in the author's memory: An urgent dis- 

 patch was sent off to the advance group at Bikini to find whether 

 the coral heads obstructing navigation m the Lagoon were being 

 removed successfully. But the actual form of the message was to 

 the effect: "Are you havijig any difficulty in removing the coral 

 heads?" The laconic reply came back: "Yes." Admiral Blandy 's 

 comment drew broad grins from all the conferees: "We don't 

 care whether he's having difficulty: of course he is. All of us 

 have our difficulties. Send another dispatch and ask if he is over- 

 coming his difficulties." 



Clairvoyance was effectively used by Admiral Blandy in solv- 

 ing one problem — ■ a problem as to what to do with the unconsumed 

 beer which might remain on Bikini Atoll during the evacuation 

 for Test A. After other officers had proposed various solutionis, 

 Admiral Blandy spoke up: "There really isn't any problem; if 

 I kyiow anything about military men, there won't be any uncon- 

 sumed beer." 



42 



