Evening star., 1946-03-11
Writer Sees US. Navy
Roaming Seas at Will
Also Is First Line of Offense
In Uncertain World, He Says
By David Laurence

III uncertain world, lie Says
By David Laurence
There are no forbidden or exclusive
areas anywhere in the world so far as
the United States Navy is concerned
This IS the real meaning Of the recent
announcement that the battleship Mis-
souri, would go to the Mediterranean to
take home the body of a Turkish dip
1omat.
The mere fact that the United States
Is sending warship to an area which
has not been frequented in previous
decades by the United States Navy Is
bound to occasion inquiry, but the
answer given Is that there should no
longer be any particular significance
attached to the movements of American
naval vessels throughout the seven seas.
The theory back Of the United Nations
Charter is that exclusive areas and
spheres Of influence are to be disre-
garded, and all the nations are presum-
ably united in system which aims to
achieve collective security.
Has Responsibility.
So at any time in future years,
whether 1t be of the coast of Africa. or
India, or Japan, or in Arctic or Artarc-
tic waters, American aircraft carriers,
battleships, cruisers destroyers and sub
marines are to move around as they
please.
Naturally. with the largest Navy in the
world, the United States has a respon-
sibility to contribute to any interna-
tional police force which may be desired
by the Security Council of the United
Nations in any emergencies. Hence, It
would be illogical to expect the great
American Navy to be efficient and use
ful anywhere around the globe if it were
not familiar with the waters and coast
lines everywhere.
When hereafter the youth of the coun-
try enlist in the United States Navy.
most of them will in truth "join the
Navy and see the world" The slogan
WILL be fulfilled far more in the future
than 1t has ever beeL In the past.
Hitherto it has been the custom only
occasionally fer the fleet to take world
cruises. and usually this has been ac-
companied by widespread comment.
A few years ago the United States
sent naval feet to visit Australia, and
President Theodore Roosevelt sent the
American fleet on a world cruise. The
mere mention of these exceptional in
stances emphasizes how different things
are today, when what was once q big
occasion will now become routine.
Seh-Sustained Everywhere.
The large American Navy can travel
ABOUT far and wide and still leave be-
nlno In nome waters fleet of almost
equal size. For the first time in history.
a naval fleet can go out from American
waters without in any way endanger-
ing the defenses of our country. Also,
for the first time, a self sustained feet
can move, if necessary, to any part of
the world and take care of itself in re-
lation to supplies.
The Navy plans are in a sense ma
neuvers and exercises to keep the feet
efficient, but it will not be surprising
if the new policy produces widespread
comment, particularly as to the frm
intention of this country to support
with all its power the United Nations
Charter.
I'VE will defend the United Nations
Charter" was not casual phrase.
either in the speech of Secretary of
State Byrnes or later in the address
of President Truman.
So, far from being any sign Of as
sertiveness, the building up of the Navy
has been advocated as a measure of
prevention
Permits Flights Anywhere.
1t was only through sea power that
bases were brought close enough to
Japan to use atomic bombs, and only
through sea power can airplanes be
launched in any part of the world at
a given moment
There are long-range planes being
built and undoubtedly in time they will
be able to fly from this country di-
rectly to any other country without re-
fueling, but such planes are in the fu-
ture, and such weapons and supporting
organizations have not yet beer inte-
grated into our armed forces. For the
present. the United States Navy re-
mains the only instrument which can
be used as a substitute for fixed bases.
With its aircraft carriers. the Amer
lean feet can fly atomic bombs, or
any other kind of bombs, anywhere in
the world at moments notice. In q
world Of uncertainty, the American
Navy has really become Americas first
line Of offense as well as defense.
(Reprod, iction Rights Reserved)
eulea praasea~