MX missile cluster gets US scientists' critique

Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger appointed a committee of scientists to criticize the controversial placement of MX intercontinental missiles in dense clusters on land, the Washington Post reported.

The newspaper said three scientists will specifically investigate how the Soviet Union could destroy the missiles, which Congress pressured the Reagan administration into proposing.

The theory in suport of ''dense pack'' placement is that if the Soviets attempt to destroy the ICBMs housed in concrete underground casements, one attacking nuclear warhead would set off only one of the missiles. This would kick up enough debris to destroy other Soviet missiles. Remaining US missiles would survive to launch a counterattack.