Evening star., 1944-05-28
Strong Navy Backed
By Score Of Senators
In Newspaper Survey
Hx the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 27.-The New
York Herald Tribune said today a
survey 1t had conducted among
United States Senator's indicated
they were united in determination
to keep the postwar American Navy
at whatever strength Is necessary
to insure peace.
The more than a score of Sena-
tors who replied were unanimous
in belief this Nation should Judge
its own need for naval strength and
be wary for some time of any naval
limitations treaties, the newspaper
reported.
The Senators responded to a letter
Of inquiry from Wilbur Forrest. as
sistant editor Of the newspaper and
vice president of the Navy League
Of the United States. Mr.. Forrest
said:
There is talk which has the
familiar ring of q quarter century
ago-the radical reduction of our
armaments Immediately upon con-
clusion of the war. There can be
no quarrel with q reduction of the
vast national defense establishment
from a war to a peace time basis.
But what is to be the measurement
OF our peacetime establishments"
Many Stress Air Arm.
Many replies stressed need for
powerful air force.
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia. urged "the largest and most
powerful Navy In the world" and
''the greatest air force in the world"
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
Of Michigan said, There must
never again be a moment when we
are not equal to the total defense
OF the United States against any
potential enemy"
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana advocated that the United
States maintain a Navy that Is
according to our own ideas rather
than to the liking of any other ma
tion or group of nations"
Calls Treaty "Vicious."
Senator McKellar, Democrat, of
Tennessee declared, 'T favor retain-
ing the largest and best Navy in the
world after the war. We must not
repeat the vicious and expensive
limitation of arms treaty of 1922"
Senator Tydings, Democrat, of
Maryland said the Navy was ''an
instrument for preserving the peace
of the world as well as protecting
our own country" and 'T would
oppose its destruction In any sub
stantial part"
Senator Maybank, Democrat, of
South Carolina said he would con-
tinue to advocate appropriation of
as much money for the Navy's de-
velopment and maintenance "as the
taxpayers can affort to pay"
Senator George, Democrat of
Georgia said he was committed
to a strong Navy" and I'VE should
not make the mistake which I'VE
made following World War I so far
as reduction in our Navy strength
is concerned"
Senator Overton, Democrat, Of
Louisiana 'We must not, in the
postwar world, let apathy, mis-
applied economy or the influence
Of misguided pacifists weaken our
Navy
Senator Bilbo, Democrat, of Mis-
sippi declared he was convinced "the
surest guarantee of peace is the
strongest preparation for war" and
that the United States would need
the 81 800 fighting ships" which he
said now Wcresat sea "for the guar
antee of the future peace of the
world"
Senator Kilgore, Democrat, of
West Virginia asserted there is no
question but what the United States
must maintain a strong Navy in the
postwar period"
Senator Willis, Republican, of In
diana asserted, "T1le United States
will make the final determination of
what its naval strength shall be
with proper respect for the needs of
other nations .. Our naval
strength must be sufficient to repel
any foe"
"The First Need"
Senator Gillette, Democrat, of
iowa said, "The first need" was for
an efficient and powerful fleet large
enough to protect "our communica-
ton lines and lines of contact with
our expanded shore establishments"
as well as continental United States.
Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Illi-
nois declared, "We will never again
abandon the doctrine of freedom of
the seas. That doctrine can only be
continued through the maintenance
Of powerful Navy"
Senator Chavez, Democrat, of New
Mexico expressed his firm adher-
ence to the principle of maintaining |
an adequate Navy in the postwar
period-but Navy whose size will
be determined by our responsibility
as first-class navy power"
Senator Thomas, Democrat, of
Oklahoma, recommended that Our
military power be under the control
at all times of our own Government,
which may require that we main
tain a larger military establishment
than would be necessary If we joined
other nations in building up a super
world military organization"