Evening star., 1948-10-28
Navy Day Talks Point
1oNewCurb on Rivalry
Between MiIitaryUnit

| IA POScA6A41Gy I1Adt NO1lSIccS WALL DC
asked to strengthen Defense Sec
retary Forrestal's control over the
three armed services as a means Of
ending pickering within the military
establishment was seen today on
the basis Of speeches by military
leaders celebrating Navy Day.
The move was suggested by two
Army members Of Mr.. Forrestal's
official family as top Navy leaders
were emphasizing yesterday in scores
of speeches throughout the country
that the Navy stands ready to repel
aggression threatening this country's
interest.
Bickering among the three armed
services-the Navy, the Army and
the Air Force-was pointed up by
Army Chief Of Staff Omar Bradley
in Navy Day speech in Des Moines
when he said:
If the armed services are to re-
tain the trust and confidence of the
American people then they must
put an end to their dog-eat-dog
CONTESTS for part of the taxpayers
dollar"
Statute Needed, Royal Says.
Secretary of the Army Royal said
at Baltimore that I'VE have found
out where unification Is not work.
ing" and added:
There is need of uneQuivocal and
authoritative direction and COM
mand at the top, and this must be
given by statute"
There was no immediate comment
from Mr.. Forrestal's Office but it
is known that his legal advisers
have been exploring the question
Of whether the Defense Secretary
needs more legal authority for CO.
ordinating the activities of the three
services.
Gen. Bradiey's speech emphasized
a hot behind-the-scenes fight going
on over division of the $14,20O, ,O00,-
600 military budget which President
Truman has set for the next fiscal
year. 1t is known that Secretary
Forrestal is having great difficulty
in reconciling the demands Of the
three services for lions share of
the budget.
Naval Aviation Defended.
Aside from the questions raised by
Secretary Royal and Gen. Bradley
in their speeches, other Navy Day
speakers emphasized that the Nays
carrier r-based aviation does not in
fringe on the strategic bombing
function of the Air Force. This was
the theme of about 100 of the more
than $50 Navy Day speeches and
Undersecretary of the Navy w. John
Kenney made the same point at
dinner at the Mayflower Hotel.
Naval air power is not a dupli-
cation Of the air power of the Air
Force" Mr.. Kenney declared. ut
is an additional air power. It is
air power tailor-made to sea and
amphibious operations"
The dinner here, sponsored by the
Navy League, which annually spon-
sors the Navy Day observance, was
attended by 500 people. This brought
to more than $4,000 the number of
persons who participated in the OBJ
servance here by visiting naval in
stallations and exhibits and attend
ing dinners and luncheons.
An honor guest at the dinner was
Miss Ruth Oriani, 17-year-old Los
Angeles heroine, who was awarded
the Navy League Medal, the first
time the award has been given
civilian since World War I. She
saved a 2-year-old child from
drowning at the risk of her own life.
She was here as the guest of the
Navy League.
The Navy League also presented
the medal Of merit to Capt. Albert
s. freedman who has completed so
years Of active Navy service. He
Is from San Diego, Calf.