Evening star., 1946-04-18
Writer Says Truman
UnfomiIior With Nov
Admiral Merrill Earned Right to
Express Views, He Adds

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Admiral Merrill Earned Right to
Express Views, He Adds
BY David Laurence
President Truman Is 50 unfamiliar
with the way he has broken the morale
Of the United States Navy and the
damage he has done to that arm of the
service by his ill-advised merger plan
that he now resents the outspoken ex-
pressions by naval officers who fear the
effects Of the merger ON the future
strength OF the Navy.
1t is onicially admitted now that Mr..
Truman was talking nebulously about
lobbying" the other day and that what
really aroused his ire was q radio in
terview given In Dallas, Tex, by Rear
Admiral A. S. Merrill. Mr.. Truman says
Admiral Merrill didn't know what he
was talking about.
But the same Admiral Merrill has
right to express his views. He earned
that right on q stormy night In the
Southwest Pacific OF the coast Of Bou-
gainyille on November 2, 1943, when the
cruiser force which he led fought against
. Japanese force Of warships superior in
number. For nearly three hours the
American cruisers and destroyers slugged
1t out with the Japanese in the longest
continuous naval engagement fought in
World War II at night.
nArnra%>d Ro- - I>~.l:-
Admiral Merrill was decorated for his
leadership and for the victory because
the Japanese not only lost three cruisers
but they were sent fleeing to Rabaul.
Admiral Merrill knows only too web
what he Is talking about He was
brought to Washington to be head of
the Once Of Public Relations in the
Navy Department because his health
had suffered under the tension Of the
combat experience. Not satisfied to re-
main IN Washington, he begged for an
other command. Physicians thought he
might qualify If he submitted to a deli
cate operation for high blood pressure
He had this done at his own expense.
But before he had recovered, the war
Win Japan was over.
What was it that Admiral Merrill
said? He declared that when the next
war comes, the United States would
need the finest Army and Air Force In
the world because with . greatly
weakened Navy. submerged under Army
control. the fighting will be on our own
shores" He added that a chief Of staff
for all armed services, If he were an
Army man or an Air Force man under a
system Of rotation, would leave the
Navy at . three-to-one DISADVANTAGE
"on matters concerning military policy.
military strategy and budget require
ments."
Admiral Merrill said what has been
said a dozen times by observers who
know the true meaning Of the merge
plan and the dangers that 1t carries to
the future security of the United States
Mr.. Truman doesn't Intentionally wish
to weaken the Navy but. he has COM
pletely ignored the facts presented and
the feeling that exists throughout the
Navy as to what will happen If the
Army or Army Air Forces dominate the
defense set-up.
Words Never Denied.
Not long ago the commanding general
OF the Air Forces in a speech here in
Washington said there was not much
use for the American Navy anyway. He
said it had no enemies to fight ANYMORE
except the Army Air Forces. He may
have been speaking facetiously but his
words spread throughout the Navy. They
have never been denied.
The truth of the matter Is that pres-
ldent Truman does not know what is
going on in the merger fight. He doesn't
know what the Navy did TN the war and
apparently he has not taken the time
or trouble to find out. He IS losing the
confidence OF many Of his warmest sup
porters every day by the way he is carry
ing on feud with the Navy.
Just six years ago this month-in
1940-another admiral was telling the
truth about the inevitability of conflict
with the japanese. His name was Ad-
miral Joseph Taussig. He, too, was re-
buked by Chief Executive, but II his
advice had been taken maybe some of
the mothers would not have lost their
sons at Pearl Harbor or in other areas
In the Pacific war For the Taussir plan
II taken seriously, might have prevented
war with the Japanese.
1t is hoped that Admiral Merrill's pre-
dictions will be proved wrong but, If he
Is proved right, the cost to the American
people may be tragically large.
lReproduction Rixhtx pasa.u.aA