Evening star., 1945-11-18
Nimifz Fears Merger
Threatens Sea Power;
Favors Council Idea

IuVVlS IVunIH iued
Admiral Ninitz urged Congress
yesterday to jettison the proposed
Army and Navy merger as harmful
to sea power, but he recommended
centralized intelligence, procurement
and more inter-service training.
At its best, he told the Senate
Military Affairs Committee, a
merger means mo more advantage
than We have now; at its worst, it
means that the Navy, and the COM
mand of the seas so vital to our
country, will suffer-"
The commander Of the Pacific
Fleet Endorsed the recommendations
of Secretary of the Navy Forrestal
for a National Security Council
composed of the War, Navy and
State Department, and civilian
agencies responsible for wartime
production.
Cites Broader Scope.
"As a means of getting the serv-
ices together" he said, this (the
counciD would seem to be more
workable and in its way more far
reaching-since the State Depart
ment would be included-than an
uncertain merging of the two ex-
listing military departments or the
addition of third
In addition, the five-star admiral
declared, there is need of central
intelligence organization to provide
complete up-to-date and accurate
intelligence properly analyzed and
made available, in usable form, for
all agencies of our Government,
military and civilian"
With the development of new
weapons and the uncertainties fac
ing us in the postwar world, timely
and accurate intelligence has be-
come vital to our national security"
he added.
Favors Joint Procurement.
To eliminate duplication and
waste" in Washington procurement
for the two services, he said 1t was
possible to set up a group under the
Joint chiefs Of staff, composed of
qualified civilians and officers. who
would be freed from any duties in
either the War or Navy Depart
ments." What we really need. he
added, 'is a national agency Of
much broader scope to coordinate
the intelligent use or ALLEGATION of
ell our national resources"
There is need. also, for improve
ment in the systems of inter-service
education and training In order to
insure maximum efficiency OF all
arms under unified command in the
field" Admiral Nimitz said. Such
q system can be inaugurated with
out impairing technical proficiency
In each service and at the same
time preserving the morale and
esprit de corps of the individual
services"
Admits Changing Mind.
Admitting freely that he had ad-
vocated a merger last December s,
he declared. Il make no apologies.
l changed my mind number of
times in the Pacific. I hope I'll
retain the f1exibility of mind to
make changes as needed in the
future"
He now believes the theoretical
advantages of merger ARE un-
attainabie whereas the disadvan-
tages are so serious that it is not
acceptable" he added.
Senator Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama, an advocate of the merger,
asked if he had any objections to
having previous testimony published
In the committee record.
No objections whatsoever" Ad-
miral Ninitz replied.
Acting Chairman Edwin c. John
son lightened the moment of ten
sion by assuring the witness it
wasn't necessary to make any ex-
plantations to Congress about con-
sistency. I'VE are kindred souls
in that matter" he laughed.
Early Bomb Test Unlikely.
Admiral Nimitz declared the Navy
Is considering the possibility of test
ing naval vessels against the atomic
bomb, but the matter is still under
discussion" The japanese, he add
ed, have only one vessel, a light
cruiser. which is undamaged But
enemy shipping is being repaired,
he said, to transport japanese troops
from Pacific Islands. The implica-
ton was that none would be i'm
mediately available for test
against the atomic bomb.
To this, Senator O'Mahoney,
Democrat, of Wyoming declared:
Il hope the Army and Navy won t
undertake these experiments with
out authorization of Congress. 1t
would be regarded as a demonstra-
ton of power to threaten the world.
Opposes Separate Air Force.
Differing from Gen. Eisenhower
who advocated the merger Friday
with equal status for Air, Army and
Navy, Admiral Nimitz voiced op-
position to independence for q
Strategic Air Force.
Should it be set up "as a separate
entity, with its own administration
and supply systems, the duplica-
tions in services and facilities
: which is frequently advanced as a
reason for merging the Army and
Navy, would become a possibility OF
triplication, he asserted. THE
procurement problem would be just
that more complicated. The avail
able funds for National Defense
would be stretched to cover not du-
plicate but triplicate administra-
ton"
The Air Forces "can be militariiy
efficient and effective as part oI
the present War Department ane
integrated into the services Of ad.
ministration and supply of that de-
partment," he said.
The tempo of the hearings viii
slow next week with only two ses
sions expected. Some of the Senator
are members of the Atomic Energ,
committee which plans an inspec