Evening star., 1942-04-05

regularize a situation which has existed
from time to time outside the law.
Acknowledgment is made that Pearl
Harbor was needed to drive home the
lesson that the Navys ancient setup
could lead only to disaster, but there is
insistence that blame should be placed
on Congress rather than reactionary
admirals. The legislative branch, ac-
'cording to this view, has always shown
horror Of anything remotely resembling
the high command of Germany. AL the
tremendous personal prestige Of Elihu
Root was required, it is pointed out. to
induce Congress to establish an Army
general staff in 1903. when he was Secre-
tary of War. Dread Of creating an all
powerful sea lord is said to have in
spired Senate and House in their refusal
to impair the autonomy of the Navy bu-
reaus, which has existed for more than
60 years
Desk" Admirals Thus Aided.
During these decades one reply is
desk admirals, TO the detriment Of
AiSllbAllS adAilA oiS, DdLAS dP FCobCo
interest in control Of the Navy. The
Ordnance Bureau in particular is de-
clared to have grasped something like q
monopoly on promotion to highest COM
mands. Admirals Leahy and Stark were
chiefs Of ordnance before becoming
chiefs of naval operations. Admirals
Claude c. Block and James o. Richard
con fnru,ar rnp,y,o O pdare In, rhiaf of tha
feet, had been, respectively, chief and
assistant chief of the Ordnance Bureau.
Ordnance was the speciality of Admiral
Husband E. Kimmel, former commander
in chief of the United States Fleet, who
was cenSured in the Roberts report on
Pearl Harbor and relieved of duty.
Writing before the United States
entered the war, Admiral Taussig ac-
cepted the view that an act of Congress
would be necessary to bring the Navy
bureaus to heel. There is some difference
of opinion, with weight leaning to the
affirmative, whether the Presidents war
powers enable him to override a con-
gressional statute. In any case, Admiral
Kings noted and formidable temper is
relied on to crush any bureau chief
undertaking to stand on his legal,
rights.
A feature OF the reorganization is that
Secretary Knox is by-passed on all ques-
tions of naval strategy. In these matters
Admiral King, as fleet commander, re-
ports directly to the President. An i'm
portant newcomer in the top command
is Vice Admiral Russell Wilson, who
has been appointed chief of staff Of the
fleet and who would act, should Admiral
King become incapacitated, as COM
mander in chief until permanent sue
cessor was appointed. Similarly, Admiral
Horne would serve temporarily as Chief
of Naval Operations.
Army Has Had It's Jealousies.
Realignments of the War Depart
ment have been far more sweeping
than those in the Navy, especially in
the field of aviation. The military
changes proved to be easier and more
fundamental because the Armys Or
ganization was considerably more mod
ern. 1t had no autonomous, policy max
ing bureaus. It's various Offices serve
only in advisory capacities. and an order
signed by Gen. George C. Marshall, chief
of staff, instantly becomes law through
out the Army. Until now, an order is
sued by the Chief of Naval Operations
was subject to veto by any bureau chief.
But the War Department was afflicted
by four subdivisions known as arms"
These were the offices of the chiefs of
infantry, field artillery, cavalry and coast
artillery Each of the compartmented
units had its proud traditions, its
branch consciousness" and its jealousies
of other arms" They competed vigor-
ously for position and status in the or
ganizatlon.
The Navy Department had no parallel
Offices, which, if they had existed, would
have been those of chiefs of battleships,
cruisers, destroyers and submarines. In
time of peace the Navy Department
possessed only one combat subdivision,
the Marine Corps. The Coast Guard is
now a small second. But the War De-
partment had seven combat or semi
combat offices. In addition to the four
arms" they were the Army Air Forces,
the Signal Corps and the Corps of En-
gineers.
In the War Departments houseclean-
ing, the arms were swept away. Maj.
Gems. John K. Herr and Robert M.
Danford, chiefs of cavalry and field
artillery, were retired. Maj. Gen. Court
ney H. Hodges, chief Of infantry, be-
(see STOKES, Page End