Appendix 13 



Preliminary Statement by the Evaluation 

 Commissionon on 

 Test B 



The following preliminary statement on Test B was prepared 

 by the President's Evaluation Commission immediately following 

 Test B. The statement was released by the White House on August 

 2, 1946. 



Dear Mr. President : 



Your acknowledgment on July 7th of our preliminary report 

 on the tirst test at Bikini was much appreciated. 



The second test was conducted in the same area, July 25, local 

 time, and on the same target ships less those sunk in the first test. 

 The bomb was exploded under a moderate depth of water at 8 :30, 

 a.m., local time, on schedule. Weather conditions were perfect. Seven 

 members of your committee witnessed the results from the USS 

 HAVEN stationed 11 miles from the point where the bomb ex- 

 ploded. There was no requirement of dark glasses for this test, and 

 the target ships were readily visible to the naked eye and easily 

 distinguishable with the aid of binoculars. 



Our previous report endeavored to express our appreciation 

 of the cooperation, assistance and unfailing courtesy extended by 

 Admiral Blandy and by the officers and enlisted men and civilian 

 scientific personnel of Joint Task Force One. Throughout, this 

 attitude of interest and diligence has remained at the same high 

 level, and the effect of longer observation of operations and better 

 acquaintance with officers and men has been to convince us that 

 you and the people of the United States can place the utmost re- 

 liance on the fairness, thoroughness and real effort for the maximum 

 of honest information which has characterized these tests. This 

 disposition has expedited and lightened our task in complying 

 with your directive. These tests have consistently adhered to the 

 stated purpose of the mission : ' ' Primarily to determine the effects 

 of the atomic bomb on naval vessels in order to gain information 

 of value to the national defense." 



In the interval between tests the target ships were redeployed 

 in respect to the point chosen for the second explosion so as to fur- 



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