WASHINGTON, Dec. 17--That atomic demolition charges are among the nuclear weapons stockpiled in Europe was confirmed today by Secretary of De Gaulle wants to retain full control Defense Robert S. McNamara.
The existence of such devices--for use in blowing up highway networks or blocking mountain passes--had been a matter of record for more than half a dozen years, but until now there has been no authoritative word on where they were spotted.
McNamara, returning from meetings of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Paris, said that plans have been made by the supreme Allied commander in Europe "for the use of those charges under appropriate conditions."
McNamara obviously referred to the chain of command under which authority to use nuclear weapons of any type rests exclusively in the President.
