Evening star., 1943-08-31


House visitors 1l8&Y
when they asked David Lawrence.
him from whence came the planes
which Maj Gen. James H. Doolit-
tie led in the historic raid over
Toxic. 1t was not until several
months later that it was disclosed
that Shanghai was in fact the
aircraft carrier Hornet-later sunk
by the Japanese in another battle
zone of the Pacific.
1t does seem as If something more
dignified and appropriate could be
used by which TO remember the air.
craft carriers we have lost or to
name the additional ones we shall
be building The word "Shangri-
La symbolizes nothing American
and it would seem far more fitting to
name the new aircraft carriers after
the brave pilots and crewmen who
have given their lives already in
the air battles of the Pacific.
Churchill Suggested.
The Navy has many air heroes
who could thus be honored, and if
1t were thought desirable to per-
petuate the memory of Army flyers
there is, for instance, the name of
Colin Kelly. Most Americans would
rather see an American name used
to describe these new-type ships.
But If a foreign name must be
chosen. it would appear to be even
more constructive as an evidence of
goodwill and international under
standing if President Roosevelt
were to honor the name of dis
tinguished half American, namely
Winston Churchill.
1t would be easier to explain to
the generations of Navy men yet to
serve in future years the selection
of Winston Churchill as the name
of a fighting aircraft carrier of this
war than the name Of an imaginary
locality first mentioned in book
of fiction. 1t certainly would be a
fine manifestation of Anglo -Ameri-
can understanding.
1t will be argued by the technical
1y-minded that portion of recent
War Loan drive was based on the
name "Shangri-La" and that the
public was told the funds would be
used for that aircraft carrier. 1t
was a good publicity stunt, perhaps,
but the people who bought bonds
will be ever so much more pleased
if Mr.. Roosevelt would ask the
Navy Department to name the new
aircraft carrier after the great
Prime Minister of Great Britain,
whose collaboration with our Presi-
dent has been so successful in carry
ing out the global strategy of the
war.
Could Honor the Wrights.
Sailors and officers of the United
States Navy have for many years
cherished the tradition that the
names of our ships meant some
thing. Our battleships have been
named after the different States,
our cruisers have been named after
cities and territories, and our de-
stroyers after naval heroes of the
past.
1t is a good custom, and since air.
craft carriers have been so few in
number it would seem to be appro-
pirate to inaugurate the practice OF
naming them after heroes of the
air, particularly the brave men
who have distinguished themselves
against the enemy in naval aviation.
America, moreover, has never
honored adequately the Wright
brothers, who pioneered with the
airplane, nor have we singled out
for outstanding credit the inventors
whose engines, instruments and de-
vices have made us world leaders in
mechanical achievements in avia-
ton. This affords another means
of using names to good purpose as
incentive to others who may follow
in inventive achievements.
To Have Fleet Of Carriers.
The number of aircraft carriers
America will have in the future
doubtless will be large Where we
had only seven at the time of Pearl
Harbor, the Navy in future years
may have as many as so or go large
sized ships from the decks of which
planes are launched and dozens of
converted or small-siZed carriers,
too. The names Hornet and Wasp,
and Lexington, Princeton, and York
town, Enterprise and Essex indicate
that no uniform formula for select
ing names has as yet been developed
for aircraft carriers. So this is the
time for the public to appeal to
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Knox to honor these new fighting
ships with a series of names that
will fit In with naval tradition.
Certainly, the name of "Shangri-
La" will always be associated with
bit Of facetious humor and would
require considerable explaining to
the boys of our Navy who for the
first time come aboard that particu-
lar aircraft carrier.
No lack of dignity, on the other
hand, would be associated with the
naming of our new aircraft carriers
after American localities, after ma
val heroes, after great inventors, or
after distinguished statesmen of
other countries our Government
wishes to honor.
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