The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-07-02

McCarran Of Nevada notably is
plugging for it. The argument for
it is that the current war has re-
vealed up-to-date aviation as so
vital an arm that it's doubtful II
it isn't more important than sur
face forces, either on land or sea.
Secretaries Stimson and Knox rec
ognize how essential it is, but in
sist that it's more essential TO the
army and navy than it would be
by itself.
Secretary Stimson agrees. how
ever. that army airmanships con-
troll has been overly split up-into
training. operations, procurement
and research divisions. According
" he's issued an order consolidat-
ing EN- into a single unit under
command of Major General Henry
A. Arnold, who also is the whole
armys deputy chief Of staff.
Some critics contend, though,
that the entire military establish
ment is too much specialized. One
groups artillery. Anothers infan-
try. A thirds cavalry. Also en-
gineers. Now aviation, though con-
solidated into a set-up of its sep
arate own, still figures as a dis
tinct command. There are strate-
gists who reason that an army Of
ficer ought to be just an army Of
fcer, not an officer Of artillery, in
fantry, cavalry, engineers or avia-
ton.
The navy isn't so sub-diWded.
The marines are in something Of a
class by themselves, and so are the
aviators, but they, too, like the
blue Jackets. all are under the
direct orders Of the commander Of
their feet.
Most other countries Of any con-
sequence have, each Of them, sep
arate air departments, or minis
tries, of their various own, and
they seem to work alright.
Coordination Lacking
Yes, admits Secretary Stimson,
out those other countries, besides
their war, navy and aviation de-
partments, have, overlapping the
trio Of EN-, a supreme general staff,
which co-ordinates their activities
into a single army, naval and avia-
torial joint campaign. We haven't
any such unifcation Of direction OF
our forces. Our war and navy de-
partments operate independently Of
one another. Now, if we create a
third independent department (avi-
atom, confusion and lots Of lost
motion will result. At least, so
our army and navy departmental
Spokesman insist.
This isn't altogether disputed.
There's been an undercurrent Of
sentiment in congress for a long
time to the effect that we could
advantageously merge our war and
navy departments land take in
aviation, now that it's developed
as it has) into one department Of
national defense.
That notion isn't being boosted
for Just at present, but it has been
and may be suggested again.
Of course such a department
would have to have undersecretar-
ies-an army undersecretary, a
naval undersecretary and an avia-
torial one. But they all would be
subject to the authority of the boss
secretary Of the whole thing.
President Too Busy
To be sure, the president Of the
United States communicating
chief Of all our armed forces, &C.
cupies something such position
already, but he naturally has so
many other duties TO attend to that
he can't concentrate much on pure
ly defensive details.
II we were to create an air de-
partment, by itself. we still could
combine It with the army and navy
departments later on.
Airs the present problem.
Britain has a separate aviation
ministry today, but it didn't estab-
nsh it until very shortly before
Herr Hitler went on the rampage,
and there's considerable comment
from British sources TO the purpose
that the London governments dila-
toryness in getting experts on the
Job was John Bulls penalty for be-
ing caught at a disadvantage by
the superiority Of Adolfs air arm
when the war finally broke out
-.d, ought TO be a lesson 10 u.