The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-12-19

Ab4atAlAtA A4o4. Page . president first proposed it Oct 23.
 Mir. Truman's merger plan va, almos, identical fo the one adyocat ed by the War Department. Hi support oi unlncation raised thu prospect Of Navy resignations Nav. Secretary James Fofrestal and hi assistant, H. Struye HenSel. wht have been outSpoken against 8 mer ger now must cease opposition O. clash openly with their comman der-in-chief.
 Forrestal fired his latest anti merger Salvo last night. He madI public a letter from former Wa Production Chief Donald NJ. Nel son. who said unification would no be in the best interests of boti services.
 One Civilian Secretary
 Under the Presidents proposal the new cabinet Department of Ma tional Defense would be under single civilian secretary. Air powe for the first time would enjoy equa status with land and sea forces, al three being under separate aSsiStan secretaries The Navy would keel its carrier and water-based aviation but not land-based units. IL Woult also retain the Marine Corps.
 Nothing that Congressional com mittees have held extensive hear ings on the merger issue, MT, T'ru man said:
 Further studies of the genera problem would serve no useful pur pose. There is enough. evidenc now at hand to demonstrate beyont question the need for a unified de partment."
 Air Set Up Separate
 He therefore asked Congress L adopt this program:
 1.-Creation of a single depart ment of national defense "charg- ed with the full responsibility for armed national security" and con- sisting of the armed and civilian forces now included in the War and Navy Departments.
 "A civilian, nominated by the President as a cabinet member would head the department as secretary of National Defense. Under him would be a civilian undersecretary and several civil ian assistant secretaries.
 3.-There would be hree branches of the new unified de- partment - land forces, Naval forces and air forces. each under an assistant secretary. This would result in creation of separate air force although the Navy would keep its separate carrier and wa ter based air units.
 1.-The undersecretary and the assistant secretaries would be available at all times for assign ments by the President or the secretary of National Defense.
 5.-The President and the Sec retary should be given authority to set Up central co-ordinating service organization in the arm ed services, principally in the scattered field of procurement. This would reduce costs or opera tion by eliminating duplication.
 6.-There would be a chief of staff for the overall department with subordinate commanders for each of the component branches Army, Navy and Air. 7.-The chief of staff and the commanders of the three CO., ordinate branches would make up an advisory body to the President and the secretary.
 Rotate Chief Post
 As An ad ded precaution against over emphasis of any on branch of service, MT. Truman rec commended that the post of chic of staff be rotated among the serv ices at least every two or thre years.
 In his message, the Presiden 1 took note of the opposition to mer ger not only by Forrestal and Hen sel but also such uniformed Nav leaders as Admiral Ernest J. King former chief Of Naval Operation, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, preSen 1 operations chief, Admiral William r. Haley and others.
 q can assure the Congress, tn President said, that once unitlca ton has been determined upon a the policy of this nation, there i no officer or civilian in any servic who will not contribute his utmos to make the uniflcation success "
 He also rejected arguments tha creation of singlecabinet post c National Defense would place to much power in the hands of on man and possibly lead to militar ism.
 No Bases For Fear
 There is no basis for such fear, MT. Truman said, "as long as tn traditional policy of the Unite States is followed that a civilia subject to the President, the Con gress and the will of the peopl' be placed at the head of this de pertinent"
 In a clear reference to rockt bombs and atomic weapons, M Truman said that "technologics developments have made the arme services much more dependent up on each other than ever before. 'If there is ever going to D another global conflict" he said, "i is sure to take place simultaneous ly on land and sea and in the al with weapons of ever greater spec and range. Our combat forces mus