Evening star., 1947-10-28
Navy Day Speakers
Warn Of Necessitv
OF Strong Sea Force
BY the Assoeioted Press

Top Naval officers told the Nation
yesterday that the United States
must maintain a powerful Navy to
defend American foreign policy and
American freedoms whenever and
wherever they are challenged"
Direct and indirect references to
Russia and the encroachment of
communism marked the series Of
Navy Day addresses in cities from
coast to coast.
Speaking at New Orleans, Secre-
tary of the Navy Sullivan declared
that since VI day this country's
military naval and air strength has
been pared down to "a shadow" of
its wartime might, and that demo-
bilization has put the major part
of our feet in moth balls"
The result, he said, has been that
United States representatives in the
United Nations Council have found
their tasks increasingly difficult
Inimical Forces Loose.
Without mentioning Russia Sby
name, Secretary Sullivan continued:
There are forces loose in the
world today which are inimical to
our Government and to our way of
life-forces whose ideologies are at
cross purposes with the democratic
processes of peace-loving people.
The time has come when we must
count it a privilege to be among
those who would be as bold in the
pursuit of peace as we were daring
in our recent months of battle for
survival"
In Cleveland. Secretary of the
Army Royal declared that despite
concern over long range possibilities
of atomic warfare, the American
people will never burrow under
ground and exchange international
rockets" If future war is forced
on the Nation.
THE atomic bomb and other new
means of destruction may possibly
be outlawed by agreement, or if not,
may become dormant through fear
of reprisal-as was largely the case
with poison gas in this war" he con-
tinued I'VE must be prepared
either way. If atomic bombs are not
used, then we must be prepared to
meet the situation with today's wea-
pons and mode of warfare. improved
and modified"
Halsey Sounds Warning.
AT Birmingham, Ala, Admiral
William F. Halsey sounded a warn
ing against American unprepared-
ness as the mo. / threat to our
security and to the peace of the
world"
Declaring he had seen this coun-
try enter two wars unprepared, Ad-
miral Halsey asked: Are We fool
enough to go to sleep for the third
time?
Admiral W. M. P. Blandy, COM
mander in chief of the Atlantic
Fleet. declared at Indianapolis that
economic help alone may save
Europe from Communism but I'VE
must never forget that aggressors
understand armed strength better
than any other argument.
At San Diego Admiral Nimitz
told a Navy League meeting he en-
visioned the United Nations as a !
going, workable organization with
effective military support" but de-
clared that in the meantime the
United States should keep all its
armed services strong
At st. Louis 1t. Gen. Elwood r.
Quesada of Washington told a
Navy Day audience that any nation
planning to attack the United
States in the belief there is lack
of unity between land, sea and air
forces "is going to get the hell
knocked out of" it.
The commander of the air force
tactical air command said that al
though Americas military services
do not believe any war is immi-
nent, an immediate emergency
would find them prepared for
united action.