Document text
Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
Page 1
San Antonio Journal BOMB SEARCH CONTINUES'—U.S. Navy frogmen stand on Mediterranean beach at Almeria, Spain, preparing to search in 200 fathoms of wafer for nuclear bomb missing since collision of two U.S. pldnes over Palomares.—UPI tecrecy Shrouds Urgent Hunt (Possibly spurred by the fear iat Communist agents might [ued their search Sunday for a [nudear bomb missing after the I crash of a B52 bomber. Another reason for urgency Iwas the worry that other counland ban the flight of nudearjtrritory if it seemed possible a [bomb could be permanently The search was relatively [quiet in contrast to the almost I crashed after collision with a tanker Jan. 17. Searchers ap parently were waiting for the arrival of two midget subma rine which can penetrate to the 1,000-foot depths of the Mediter ranean where the bomb and oth er secret devices are believed The Spanish government sent 250 more civil guards here Sun day to reinforce the hundreds already keeping the search area cordoned off. Secrecy . grew deeper than ever. Offidal sources said the U.S. Department of Defense had is sued strict orders to all U.S. personnel that no official state ments be made or information released until cleared with that This was irksome not only to newsmen here, but to U.S. Air Force and Spanish officials, Some felt they were not kept in the picture as much as they should have been. The U.S. Embassy in Madrid said its officials were likewise' unable to answer inquiries, even when put by highly placed Span fanners and fishermen — to file damage claims. Cattle farmers were permitted to draw advance payments to buy food for their herds, barred from grazing within the area. Fishermen, idled because of the offshore search, also re ceived damage payments fnr the U.S. Air Force. A number o those unable to work at tlr usual tasks were given jobs with the search parties ashore. Fear on the part of Spanish peasants that there might be danger from the missing bomb was one reason for the urgent search and the secrecy. But it was believed the overriding rea son was security. Preventing nudear weapons or component parts from reach ing the hands of Communist weapon designers is a prime U.S. requirement. A casual dis coverer might put material in the hands of a foreign agent, intentionally or unintentionally.