The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-12-11
House Army,
Groups
Fight Merger

Washington, Dec. ll-AP-Lead
ers OF the powerful House military
and naval committees aligned them
selves firmly today in opposition 10
any merger Of the Army and Navy.
Proposing instead that an indie
pendent Air Force be created, Chair
man Andrew j. May (D-KyO Of the
military and Carl Ninson (D-Ga)
Of the naval committees declared
"unification OF the Army, and the
Navy is not the answer TO the
problem OF national defense under
modern methods OF warfare
Some congressional quarters in
terpreted the May-Vinson action
as a move 10 split the Army in its
support OF merger plans by lining
UP the Army Air Forces behnd the
new proposal.
Sources close to both Mays and
Wilson's committees told newsmen
the measures could be regarded as
THE Nays answer to demands for
unification. Roth May and Vim
son. however said the identical
bills they introduced were the prod
uct of their joint efforts.
Test Vote Looms
A test vote shaped up in the
House today on proposed labor
legislation.
Several law makers said the out
come will be preview OF what is
in store for other pending measures
designed 10 curb industrial strife.
Before the members Is bill by
the military committee to restr ct
political activities Of unions and
penalize them for violating no-strikc
contracts.
House leaders announced, how
ever, that today's vote will concern
only the rules that shall prevail
during consideration Of the mea.
sure. Chief among these is one
that would ban any amendment un.
less IT had been approved by the
military committee which wrote the
bill.
Labor supporters told newsmen
ihey will try to defeat this resolu-
ton. thus barring consideration OF
the bill itself until II has gone
back to the rules committee for
further action.
II they have the strength TO kill
the resolution these members said
privately. they then will he able
10 steer the course OF other labor
legislation from now on.
Marshall Recalled
Senator Ferguson (R-MiChD and
Rep. Keefe tR.Wis) sought TO learn
from General Marshall today why
they said. directions for a 1870
Army alert in Hawaii were more
specific than the Nov. 81. 1871.
war warning that went to Homo
lulu.
Committee records show that on
June II. 1910. the adjutant general,
acting for Marshall, sent the fol-
lowing message to Heron.
Immediately alert complete de.
fensive organization to deal with
possible rans.Pacific raid. to great
est extent possible without creating
public hysteria or provoking undue
curiousity OF newspapers or alien
agents. Suggest maneuvers basis.
Maintain alert until further or.
ders. Instructions for secret com
munication direct with chief Of
staff will be furnished you short.
ly. Acknowledge
Ferguson asked Marshall yester.
day TO compare the message sent
by Adm. Harold r. Stark. then chief
OF naval operations. 10 Adm. Hus-
band F. Kimmel, in command Of
the Pacific fleet at the time the
Japanese struck'Pearl Harbor. with
the Nov. p message. to Short.
The Stark message said this
dispatch Is to be considered a war
warning. Negotiations with Japan
looking toward sterilization of con.
ditions in the Pacific have ceased
and an aggressive move by Japan
is expected within the next few
days"
Kimmel was told to execute
an appropriate defensive deploy.
ment preparatory to carrying out
the task assigned in WLP (War
Plan) 46."
As he went through the mes.
sages sentence by sentence. Marsh.
all agreed that some Of the Navy
instructions were more specific.
But al the conclusion, he said:
Il don't know that ] would say
either one was stronger than the