Evening star., 1949-03-30
johnson Is Expected
To Rely on President S
Backing inCrackdown

~SASAA2C oSS1CColS OoAAloOll 9
warning that he will permit no
pickering among the Army. Navy
and Air Force brought about spec
ulation today that he probably
would invoke White House pres
tige should it become necessary.
The new defense chief is clothed
in no more legal authority than
James Forrestal. the first Secre-
tary of Defense, and resort to
presidential backing could be Mr.
Johnson's only method unless and
until Congress approves legisla-
ton to strengthen the existing
service unification law.
Mr.. Forrestal consistently tried
to act as peacemaker among the
services. Mr.. Johnson. close asso-
ciates say. likely will go directly
TO President Truman and demand
that any man who gets out of line
Ie lired. il q civilian, o. trans
ferred out of his job if any officer
Headline Hunting Disapproved.
Mr.. Johnson made it crystal
clear at a news conference yes
terday that there would be nc
room in the Pentagon for those
who don't go along with his
promise that there will be unifica-
ton" He added that there will
be no vying between the three
services for headlines. no release
OF things that are secret"
Within "a hours after he was
sworn in to his new post, Mr.
johnson also:
l. Told top-level officials of the
Army. Navy and Air Force to move
at once to the Pentagon SO that
they can work closely together. 1t
probably will be the largest moving
operation the Capitol has ever
seen, since Mr.. Johnsons order
telescopes 2 2l2-year program into
so to 80 days.
.. Announced that he would
abolish or consolidate some of the
800 military boards and commits
SlonS.
3. Banned personal or party
politics.
4. Said he had a pretty fair
conviction" what roles the Air
Force and Navy should play in
the event of war and gave some
indication that this conviction
might be at variance with
presently assigned tasks. He added
that he and the Joint Chiefs of
Staff would likely meet with Gen.
Eisenhower at Key West, Fla, to
thrash out this knotty problem
which caused Mr.. Forrestal diff
Guilty.
Information Staff Faces Cut.
Meanwhile, the fruits of the
first unif1cation order since Mr..
Johnson's appointment was an
nounced were revealed. This in
volved consolidation of the mill
tary public information activities
and an order disclosed that it will
mean a cut of 35 per cent in the
personnel involved here.
William Frye, assistant to
Secretary johnson. has advised
the Army. Navy and Air Force
Departments that the merged
defense public information set
up will require ITO military
and civilian personnel from each
service. There are now 5O2 per-
sons employed in such work in
Washington.
MI. Forrestal issued the con-
Solidation order March II with
the full concurrence of Mr.. John
SON.
Each section should be headed
by general or flag officer or a
civilian of similar qualification, +"
Mr.. Frye's memorandum stated.
The present directors of public in
formation are Maj. Gen. Vernon
Pritchard. Army; Rear Admiral
Edward C. Even. Navy. and
Stephen Leo, Air Force.
The memorandum said, how
ever. that when other factors
are equal, special attention should
De paid to retention of civilians
and the transferring of military
personnel