The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1945-11-02
Navy Fights Hard
To Stop Merger
With Army Force

ss ~
WASHINGTON (AP)-The war
appears to have developed the
habit of aggression in both the
u. S. Army and the U. S. Navy.
With wars end they r now
battling each other-like gentle
men, of course, but like two
listed gentlemen-over the issue
of consolidating the two services
under a single department.
Feeling over this question has
given rise to some of the stran-
gest posturing seen in this capi-
tai in years. The generals are
wooing the admirals and the adj
nlirals don't like it.
The sailors are afraid they
would lose their identity in a e
shuttle, for the Army is numeri-
cally superior.
Since the plan was first pro-
posed, with Army backing, the
Navy-always proud of its ability
in a fight-has been sniping at 1t
to discredit the project before
Congress and the people.
Navy Losing Ground
Present indications are that the
naval supporters have been losing
ground in recent weeks and may
soon be forced to drop their har-
rying tactics and bring their big
guns into play.
If they hope to stave off the
unification plan, they will have
to move fast, because a bill for
consolidation is already under
consideration in the Senate Mill
tary Affairs committee.
To date, every important gen.
eral of the u. S. A~rmy-Marshall.
Eisenhower, Arnold and Mac
Arthur among them-has backed
the project. Such weight cannot
be lightly set aside by Navy men.
The effect of this massive pres
sure on the legislature has been
gradual, but pronounced. A re-
porter who canvassed the Senate
recently for opinion on the Army
Navy merger wrote that he had
been unable to discover a single
voice in opposition to the plan,
although advocates were plenti-
full.
Four Reasons Given
The Army, which has occasion
ally shown itself as adept with
words as with artillery, has given
Congress four telling reasons for
adopting the merger:
|. The atomic bomb and its de-
velopment, as well as the devel-
opment of defenses against it,
could best be handled by a uni
fled command.
2. Scientific research and exper-
in1ent would be aided by unified
sponsorship and a free exchange
of IDEAS.
g.. Air power, now in a some
what subsidiary position in both
the Army and Navy, would be
raised to the status ii deserves.
4 Coordination of air, e and
land forces has been demonstrate
ca to be a necessity in global
warfare. Where 1t was missing,
the Army says, we came close to
complete failure of operations
pearl Harbor is cited as an ex-
ample) .
Author Is Hill
The consolidation bill was pro-
posed by Sen, Lister Hill, Ala
bama Democrat, and provides for
a department of armed forces un-
der a civilian secretary, aided by
undergraduates of Army, Navy
and Air.
Some opposition to this plan has
developed in the Military Affairs
committee. Acting Chairman Ed
win c. johnson Cd, Colo.) has
made a counter-proposal which
would authorize a department
CT military security with six
branches: Air Corps. Army, Navy,
Procurement, Military Intelli-
gence, and Military Science.
Sen David |. Walsh ID, Mass.)
has been a lone voice, in his Ca
pacity as chairman of the Naval
Affairs committee, in opposing
the departmental change. Walsh
has suggested a national defense
council consisting of the secreta-
ries of War, State and Navy, with
the President presiding.
Whatever form the bill finally
takes, the struggle over CONSOLE
dation may be the last engage
ment in a long fight between
Army and Navy. It is for Con-
gress to decide.
M ODD AHre Arthur Shirley