Evening star., 1945-08-26
Spruanee Favors Cut
In Navy, Doubts Need
OF Bases in China
BY w. H. SHIPPEN, Jr.,
Star War CORRESPONDENT.

MANILA, Aug. 25.-Strange as it
may sound back home, an argument
for big cut in United States naval
strength was advanced here today
by g. high-ranking American ad-
miral.
The commander of the 5th Fleet,
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, said
further he saw no need for bases on
the China coast and suggested Oki-
nawa might be held as a United
Nations area instead of an American
outpost.
In his second interview since
Pearl Harbor, Admiral Spruance
pointed out naval power is COM
parative, and no situation conceiv-
able in the future can break peace
between two nations now controlling
the oceans.
With liquidation of the Japanese.
German and Italian fleets, the
United States and Britain are the
only remaining naval powers, Ad-
mlral Spruance added, and can be
relied on to set a fair limitation
formula.
Interview on Flagship.
Receiving correspondents aboard
his flagship, Admiral Spruance de-
clared thousands of officers and
men will be eager to return to
CIVILIAN jobs after satisfying their
curiosity about Japan.
The American Navy is far too
big and costly, Admiral Spruance
thinks. A much smaller navy in the
Pacific can control big belt of
ocean from Hawaii to the Philip
pines and support any operations
that might be staged in future
from Far Eastern outposts. The
former Japanese inundated islands
would help secure our line of COM
munications with Guam serving as
a base of strategic importance
equalllng that of Hawaii.
The admiral agrees with Gen,
Macarthur that the Japs are doing
all possible to expedite an orderly
occupation and surrender. He is
convinced their naval forces fought
good war with what they had, and
takes issue with those who be-
Titled their military skill.
Doubts Trouble in Landing.
Admiral Spruance expects no
trouble from the Japs when his
ships land troops on docks and
beaches, but he is prepared for any
eventuality, and if necessary will
enforce the peace.
Admiral Spruance's flagship is a
duplicate of the Missouri on which
surrender terms will be signed in
Tokyo Bay. She has enough room
on her afterdeck to accommodate
5000 persons if all battle gear is
cleared away. The peace ceremony
might be held on such a deck open
to the view of observers from all
the United Nations.
The battle record of this ship
since she first lined her guns on
the Japs late in l943 is one of dish
ing out punishment and taking
none in return. The 300-yard-long
battlewagon has brought her 5000
officers and men through the whole
show without a casualty.
Her last engagement and future
assignments are still under security
wraps, but her commander Capt.
E. T. Woodbridge of Washington,
D. c., makes no secret of his pride
in her accomplishments.
Family Lives in Arlington.
Before coming to take over his
ship last January Capt. Woolridge
for 16 months was chief of naval
personnel in Washington. His wife
and family live in Arlington, Va.
Admiral Spruance said today the
Japs are furnishing charts and de-
tailed navigational information
along with harbor pilots when
needed. Our own minesweepers,
however, will check Jap efforts to
clear the home waters before the
big ships draw close to shore.
Jap mines are bad enough but
the B-29's ranging out of the Mari
anas have distributed type of un-
derwater explosive the United
States forces don't want to en-
counter.
Of special interest to Admiral
Spruance is the elimination of such
hazards lest troopship hit a stray
mine that might cost lives and in
flame the American people with
fresh suspicion Of japanese treach-
cry.