Evening star., 1946-04-21

another larger dwelling so that he and
his children might live under one roof.
1t is with the same feeling that many
members of Congress look to the new
bill "to promote the common defense
by unifying the departments and agen-
cies of the Government relating to
common Defense" which has just been
reported out of subcommittee of the
Senates Military Affairs Committee.
A political storm RACES with increasing
violence throughout the world. And
while the armed forces of Russia and her
satellites are kept in war trim, the
American forces are rapidly disinte-
grating. The Secretary of State, who
is responsible for steering the American
ship of state through these troubled
waters, is severely handicapped.
In the past it was the State Depart-
ment which had used expediency in it's
politics. Today it is Congress which is
using it on the eve of the November
elections. And although it must be
clear to the majority of both Houses
that the man who is dealing with a
complex international situation must be
supported by a military strength-the
only thing that still carries weight in
diplomatic gotiations-Congress has
been reluctant to provide the Army with
modest reservoir of manpower.
Follows Totalitarian Pattern.
At the same time President Truman
has sent word to the Senate that he
strongly indorses the bill providing for
the merger of the Nations defense forces
into one body headed by one secretary
of common defense.
This project is considered by its au-
thors as the panacea for all the ills the
Army, Navy and Air Force have suffered
during the war and is regarded as a
must" although it should be realized
that any changes in a large organiza-
ton must create an interim chaos which
might severely endanger Americas ma
tional defense.
OF the great powers which possessed
strong army, navy and air forces only
the totalltarians have favored such
mergers in the past The reasons were
political rather than military.
The constitutional states have main
tained what is now described as an
archaic system" because there was
feeling among their leaders that the
concentration of such vast power as
the armed forces represent into the
hands of one man might endanger the
constitutional form Of government. Only
countries which have a limited strength
and negligible navy have allowed them
selves the luxury of having one depart
ment of national defense.
Hitler Merges Armed Forces.
After Germany was defeated in the
First World War the Versailles treaty
provided that she could have only a
small army of 100000 men and a heavily
reduced navy The Weimar constitu-
ton, complying with the dictates of
the Versailles treaty, decided to place
the token German forces into a single
department of national defense, more
or less along the lines suggested in the
bill which is now before the Senate's
Military Affairs Committee.
When Hitler came to power in March,
1888, he decided Immediately to expand
the German armed forces and in de-
fiance of the Versailles treaty trans
formed the department of national de-
tense into war ministry to provide fer
a growing army. Two years later he
created an an ministry and ultimately
navy ministry. These changes were
essential to give adequate training and
impulse to the various services which
were to conquer the world.
Then, when Hitler considered the
German Army sufficiently trained and
ready for its Historical tasks" the
three departments were once more
welded into one by the establishment of
the high command of the Wehrmacht.
AS in the bill which has been SUBJ
mitted to the Senate the German armed
services-arrny, navy and air force
did not lose their individuality. They
were merely placed under single
supreme direction. By this method Hit
Ter, as the head of the state, became
supreme commander and had directly
mand of the armed forces
Staff Chief Would Outrank All.
The bill before the Senate provides
that there shall be at the seat of Gov
ernment an executive department to be
known as the department of common
defense, which shall be administered
by secretary who shall be appointed
from civilian life by the President
with the advice and consent of the
Senate"
Consequently, there is a great differ
ence between Hitler's plan and the
provisions of the Senate measure SC
far as the head Of the new department
Is concerned. But there seems to be
little difference as regards the chief
of staff of the department. The bill
provides that there shall be in the
Department of National Defense ar
officer known as chief of staff of com.
mon defense y who shall be selected
from among the officers of the armed
forces of general or flag rank and shal
rank above all other officers of the
armed forces on active duty"
In Germany the services were KEPT
separate and distinct, but the COM
manders in chief of the three branches
were under the general direction o1
the supreme chief of staff, which the
Senate DILL would duplicate.
In every country in the world the wal
has discarded many old traditions. Ano
a number of Senators are wondering
what would happen if the secretary OF