Evening star., 1947-01-17
Merger

| Hospital.
Merger 81
Continued From First Page.j
resented a definite, substantial,
constructive forward STEP
Earlier engagements made 1t nee
essary for the service heads to leave
after their opening statements had
been made and questioning then
was turned over to Mr.. Ross, Ad-
miral Sherman and Gen. Norstad
Mr.. Ross said Mr.. Truman would
furnish key members of Congress
with copy of the documents re-
lating to the unification which were
released at the White House last
night, but he did not know if a
tentative bill would be drafted at
the White House or whether Mr..
Truman would simply leave the
shaping of legislation to members
of Congress.
More Decentralization.
| Admiral Sherman was asked now
the compromise plan differs from
the original. He replied that the
agreement probably provides for a
greater measure of decent decen-
tralization; more autonomy for the
three arms of services and prob
ably greater stature for the four
secretaries.
When it came to details, ques-
tions at the news seminar brought
out these points:
The plans make no specific pro-
vision for a single purchasing de-
partment for all branches of the
armed service. But the nature OF
the setup indicates that this is con-
templated.
Gen. Norstad said it is a rule of
thumb" that where you get in
creased efficiency, economy can be
expected.
How soon or how much I'm not
competent to say, nor do I know
how it will be reflected in the 194S
budget" he general said.
The President has asked for more
than $11 ZOO, 100000 for military ex-
penses in the next fiscal year.
Marine Corps Unchanged.
The Marine Corps will continue
unchanged as the traditional am
phibious fighting group. But there
probably will be greater co-opera-
ton, training and development for
use of the Army, Navy and Marines
togther in such operations.
There is no intention in this plan
to decide which service will use
which weapons for the purpose of
doing its job.
Research probably will continue
along present lines, but with a
strengthening and coordination
under a joint research agency di-
rected by DR.. Vannevar Bush.
Whether guided missiles will be
the special concern of one branch
rather than another is not deter
mined in the merger arrangement
The experts said that If such weap-
ons are needed for land operations
they will be available, and if re-
quired for sea operations, they will
be on hand for that, too.
There has been no discussion yet
of such things as uniforms, Admiral
Sherman said, adding:
MY purely unilateral view is that
am opposed to any change"
President Halls Agreement.
Before today's announcement that
only the secretary of national de-
tense would have cabinet status
members of Congress had generally
agreed the question is one for them
to decide anyway.
The White House, in announcing
the apparent end of the bitter
interservice rivalry over merger
made public a letter Mr.. Tru-
man wrote the two Secretaries ex-
pressing his pleasure at their "ful
and complete agreement on a plar
for uniflcation of the armed serv-
ices" The President called it 9
thoroughly practical and workable
plan"
In the main, congressional com.
ment also followed the line of graft.
fication that the dispute had beer
resolved. But many lawmakers sale
they want time to examine in detail
the draft of the merger propose.
before indorsing the plan itself.
Chairman Gurney of the Senate
Armed Services Committee sale
legislation would be needed to carr.
out the plan, but that his grour
feels that go per cent of the prob.
lem has been taken care of b,
!; the voluntary agreement.
j AAF Would Be Autonomous.
/ The service which seemingly
stands to win most is the Army All
), Forces. 1t would become autono.
mous-no longer a unit of the Wal
J Department but the United State!
Air Force"-and would be on equa
footing in strategy and buying witt
its sister services, the Army ane
Navy.
I The Navy appeared to have beer
victorious on a strongly argued
point, that of retaining control O.
its land-based as well as carrier.
based aviation The Marine Corps
too, apparently would remain in it:
historical form and mission ane
| with its own aviation.
, The paramount result OF the pro
posed merger plan would be t.
achieve unified planning for de
, fense.
To provide this, Secretaries Pat
terson and Forrestal agreed tina
the Secretary Of National Defens'