LETTERS TO THE DDITOR

Dear Sir, l IT is rare that I agree with Ray Fleming, but his masterly and reasoned article today on the use of the atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Daily Bulletin, Saturday 6 August) is unquestionably the truest interpretation of these events that I have read in this age of revisionist historians who seek to denigrate the Allies for the bombings, but who lay little blame on Tojo and his fellow band of fanatical Japanese ministers who would without doubt have continued the war probably causing, it was estimated, over ONE MILLION American and Allied lives that an invasion of the Japanese homeland would have entailed. Don't forget,the Bushido code of the Japanese Army which was “Death before Dishonour”, shown time and time again in the assaults on the many islands held by Japan where the defenders committed Hari Kari rather than surrender. And, let us not forget the original suicide bombers who crashed their aeroplanes on American warships, “The Kamikazis”. There is one other aspect of the research that led to the atom bombs being constructed and that is that the Allies only led the Germans by a few months. German scientists almost succeeded but the raids in Norway that destroyed the “heavy water” plants held them up until military defeat ended their work. As Winston Churchill said at the time, “By God's mercy, British and American science, outpaced all German efforts”. Ray Fleming's last paragraph sums up perfectly the whole issue of the nuclear dilemma and I congratulate him for his facing up to the inevitable conclusion. l Re: CYCLE TRACKS I RIDE my bicycle every day round the Bay of Palma, mainly for health reasons and exercise. I always try to use the excellent facility of the cycle tracks provided for the purpose. However, what with joggers, roller bladers and walkers (most of whom are completely unaware of other people because of their use of MP3s and CD players), the cyclists are being forced to ride on the pavements. It is clearly marked in many areas “no cycling allowed” and it means that these people are making me and other cyclists like me break the rules of the road. The walkers are either power walkers or people out for their daily strolls and they seem to be unaware that cycle tracks exist. It should be pointed out to people that cycle tracks are there for their safety and to protect them from injury from cyclists and that they are not an extension to the walkways provided from where they can enjoy their beautiful surroundings in comfort.