Evening star., 1949-06-23

In 15-Bi|Iion Budget
For Armed Services
Woste in Spending Seen
By Competition Between
Army, Navy and Air Force
By David Laurence
Military appropriations esti-
mated at s15.ooo,0oo, 900 will have
to undergo a sizable cut.
Public sentiment demanding
economy in the total budget Of
the Federal Government Is rising.
Tension in the international
situation has been diminished. but
this is not the reason why econo-
mics are possible.
The fact that billions of dollars
are available and that this means
contracts to commercial interests
makes the pressure for spending
rather intense but there Is also
waste due, to a great extent. to a
regrettable competition between
the armed services.
This competition has been fos-
tered instead of frustrated by the
so-called "unification" movement.
Originally there were two
armed services - the Army and
the Navy. Now there APE three
the Army. the Navy and the Air
Force.
Fourth Service Possible.
If various bills pending in Con-
gress are implemented, America
can readily give birth to fourth
department known as the Depart
ment Of Defense. 4
There is and always has been
need for co-ordinating the armed
services. What the Nation ought
to have is one service with three
branches.
This may be possible some day
except for the competitive spirit
that has arisen. This has been
largely due to a mistaken belief
In the Air Force that the only way
it could get recognition was either
as the dominant unit OF a COM
bined single service or as an au-
tonomous third service. The
Navy, fearful that it would be re-
duced to insignificance unless 1t
appeased the Air Force, finally
agreed to the compromise where
by a third autonomous service
was created.
But the Air Force crusaders
have not been content. They now
are urging a single armed service
with a sort of general staff such as
Germany had in 1889. They
would expect an Air Force general
to head 1t up. To this the Navy
folks answer that that kind Of
staff lost the war for both Japan
and Germany. Goering developed
o unified service dominated by
air force concepts.
In the Army. however, are sew
eral exponents Of the general
staff idea. They. too. want one
service and believe, Of course, it
would be dominated largely by
generals and that money now CIV
en- the Navy could be appropriated
for the two former units Of the
Army.
There is nothing wrong with
three autonomous services in O
eo-ordinated set-ups In fact. the
preservation of the specialized
services is an advantage in the
direction of military effectiveness.
But the problem today is how tol
keep the three autonomous ser'v-
ices from fighting with each other
instead of working on plans tol
defend this country against a
theoretical foreign enemy. Secre-
tary of Defense johnson said in
his latest speech:
THE problem Of resolving con-
ficts within the armed forces is
not simple task Of knocking
heads together. It's complexities
extend into the intricate and
technical operations of highly
specialized endeavors. With the
exception Of q few unregenerate
warriors of the old-school tie, the
separate services have searched
diligently to resolve their differ
ences."
Two-to- One Vote.
But in the old-school days,
there were II on each side and not
i've on one and II on the other.
The present Joint Chiefs Of Staff
consists Of two West Pointers and
one Annapolis man. If Secretary
johnson puts up to these three
who shall get the money. a two
to-one vote against the Navy
now twice recorded on major mat
ters-is not surprising.
Mr.. Johnson's most important
declaration about the military
establishment in his latest speech
vas this; ut Is not competitive
enterprise where one service can
profit at the expense of another"
Unfortunately that's exactly
what the two to one" business
means and encourages.
IxAll this competition can be
ended and economy obtained by
letting each service have budget
Of its own. fixed after conferences
with the Budget Bureau and the
PRESIDENT and the Secretary of
Defense. Once the budget for
each Of the three services was
recommended. Congress could cut
as it wished and insist that each
service live within its own budget.
But If 1t was clearly understood
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