Evening star., 1947-07-27
Defense
CONTINUED From Rrst Page)

pressed in the naval service in the
past with respect to the merits of
the new organization are resolved
by the Presidents approval of the
act. The personnel of the Navy and
all of its components will apply
themselves Fundamentally and with
the fullest spirit of cooperation to
the implementation of its provi-
Sions."
Spaatz Sends Dispatch.
Last night Gen. Carl Spaatz, Air
Force chief, sent dispatch to all
air commands in the United States
and abroad saying the organiza-
tional structure now set up by law
is the same as the one found neces-
Sary in practice under the laws of.
war" He said the establishment OF
the Air Force on a basis of parity
with the other arms should be
recognized as an opportunity to
weld even more closely the personnel
of all services whose common OBJ
jective is a strong National defense" !"
Bidding for avoidance of inter
service jealousies, he said cordial
and sympathetic relationships with
personnel Of the Army, Navy and
Marine Corps are an urgent re-
ouirement" and no effort must be
spared Ito insure the creation of a
military establishment which has
no other goal than an effective COM
mon defense of the United States"
Aside from Mr.. Forrestal's nomi-
nation, Mr.. Truman made no imme-
diate move to fill other posts set
up under the law At least for a
time the acting civilian chiefs of
the three departments will be: Ken
meth c. Royal for Army, John l..
Sullivan for Navy and J. Stuart
Symington for Air. Mr.. Sullivan is
Undersecretary of the Navy and Mr..
Symington Assistant Secretary of
War for Air.
Short Tenure for Royal.
Mr.. Royal will have served as a
cabinet member for one of the
shortest times in the Governments
history. He was sworn in as Sec
retary of War last Thursday. But
under the unifcation law only the
Secretary of Defense has official
cabinet status.
While much work remains on de-
tail for the headquarters in Wash
ington and for coordination in
such matters as supplies and services
the framework for unifcation al
ready is operating in the field.
A system of unified military COM
mand, recommended, by the Joint
Chiefs of sttaii and approved by Mr.
Truman, went into operation last
December.
In general a commander chosen
from the branch having predom-
inent interest in the area directs
planning in each OF the seven areas
Far East, Pacific, Alaskan, North
east. Atlantic Fleet, Caribbean ano
European. Each commander is re-
ponsible for unified planning tor
defense and the conduct Of opera
tions in event of emergency.
Functions Assigned.
Here is how the pres1dentla.
order today defines the components
and assigns the functions of the
three armed forces:
Navy-Comprised Of naval COM
bat and service forces, naval aviation
and the Marine Corps. Its function!
embrace operations at sea, including
Joint operations with the other two
services such as invasion of hostile
shores, control of vital sea areas
protection of sea lanes, destruction
of enemy commerce; support O.
occupation forces; reconnaissance
and anti-submarine warfare.
On this latter point, the Army Al
Forces and the Navy have lont
differed, the AAF contending tina
detection and destruction of enem.
submarines should be its mission
THE executive order, referring tt
reconnaissance anti-submarine war
fare and protection of shipping
"The air aspect of those functi
shall be co-ordinated with the Al
Eorre including the development