Evening star., 1944-02-27
Postwar Department
OF National Defense
Studied by Officers

Ss~V
A committee of Army, Navy and
Air Forces officers has been study
ing for several months a plan for
the postwar coordination of all
branches of the fighting services
under one Secretary of National
Defense, but no radical changes in
existing military establishments are
planned during the present conflict.
Behind the inquiry is not only the
proved necessity of close co-ordina-
; tion among the services, which has
been underscored by battle expert
ences, but officials also have in mind
the immediate postwar period when
all three services will be pressing
their claims for retention of large
forces. Then a common head
might be useful to arbitrate their
demands and establish a well-bal-
anced national defense.
The study has been kept secret
thus far because of the possibility
that enemy propaganda, by mis-
interpreting it. might make 1t ap-
pear that the war effort here was
going so badly that the United
States had found q drastic re-
organization of its high command
necessary.
President Requested Data.
A co-ordinated national defense
establishment was first suggested
to President Roosevelt approx
mately six months ago, it was said.
He considered the suggestion
worthy of study and experts Of the
three services were asked to gather
data and make recommendations.
The idea has been advanced in
many quarters, many times, for
many years. The late Brig. Gen.
William L. (Billy) Mitchell, whose
views on air power and criticism
OF the high command led to his
court martial nearly 20 years ago,
was an advocate of it.
One of the latest open express
sions in military quarters in favor
of it came in August, 1943, from
Admiral H. E. Yarnell now as
signed to the Office of the Secretary
Of the Navy.
Senators johnson of Colorado and
Kilgore Of West Virginia, Demo-
Gratis, introduced a unif1cation bill
OF their own two years ago, but at
the War Departments suggestion
did not press for immediate action.
Three Reports Expected.
Well-informed sources believe it
Is quite possible-in view of the
strong differences of opinion exist
ing among the three branches
that no common agreement will be
reached in the present study. This
suggests the possibility that the
President may receive three separate
reports, each embodying the particu-
lar point of view of the Army, Navy
and Air Forces.
1t is stressed that whatever may
be done in the postwar period. no
consolidation is considered possible
as long as this country is at war
with Germany and Japan, or either.
To disrupt the present fighting or
ganization now, it was pointed out,
would be like turning filled waste
basket up and spilling its contents"
Military students here point out
that the idea of a unified fighting
service Is something entirely new,
as none of the great powers has
gone so far as to place its land and
sea forces under the same command.
This has been done only in very
small states where the navy was
nothing but an auxiliary to the
army. N
Johnson Argues for Plan.
In an interview yesterday, Senator
johnson said, There is no doubt
that such a plan, If carried out,
would eliminate many present diff
culties. Everyone knows there is
duplication of activities by the Army
and Navy, and sometimes even trip
lication, because of the Marine
Corps.
"A case in point is the Army's
decision to abolish its college spe-
cialist training program for young
sters, while the Navy Department,
at the same time, is calling for ap-
plicants for its Viz training pro-
gram"
Senator johnson said he believed
the Pearl Harbor debacle and long
delay" in the Aleutian campaign
demonstrated the tragic results
which might be expected from di-
vided authority.
Senator Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama, a member of the Senate Mil
itary Affairs Committee, said, II
have favored a single department
Of national defense for years"
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio,
likewise said he believed that q
single military authority could bet
ter coordinate all activities and
prevent overlapping functions.
Senator Chavez, Democrat, of
New Mexico, declared, THE idea
has definite possibilities" but noted
there would be practical difficulties
to be overcome, even in Congress,
where the Military and Naval
Affairs Committees OF House and
Senate guard their prerogatives
jealousy.
Senator johnson took cognizance
Of further hurdles, such as the prob
able reluctance of communities
possessing either Army or Navy
facilities to accede to any abolition.
Such plan certainly could never
be nut into effect without the