Evening star., 1949-10-04
Congress Probe
Assured After
.Admiira|s' Blast
Vinson Pledges to Get
To Bottom Of Charges
Of Impaired Morale
(Terts of documents on Page A-7J

Complaints Dy HlSn naval Oh
ficers that Navy morale was shot
to pieces and the Nations security
imperiled under the present uni
fled defense setup appeared head
ed for a thorough congressional
investigation today.
The complaints by three top
admirals came to light last night
in highly unusual circumstances.
Chairman Vinson Of the House
Armed Services Committee said
his group would get to the bot
tom of this as soon as possible.
The committee will resume its
hearing tomorrow into the Air
Forces B-36 bomber procurement
and related matters.
Copies Slipped to Newsmen.
The Navy complaints were con-
tanned in typed copies of papers
signed with the names of Admiral
Louis E. Denfeld, chief of Naval
Operations; Admiral A. w. Rad
ford. Pacific Fleet commander in
chief, and Vice Admiral Gerald
F. Began, commander of the 1st
Pacific Task Fleet. ;.
The papers, marked conf
dential,' were slipped to three
press association reporters last
night by naval source who
stipulated that his name not be
used. The papers were given to
the neWsmen in separate meet
ings away from the Pentagon.
Navy Secretary Matthews said
today that the release of the let
ters. which had been addressed to
him, was entirely an internal
matter" and he indicated he
might have a statement on the
subject soon. There were other
indications that the Navy might
start an inquiry to find out who
turned the papers loose.
It was learned today that sew
eral other flag officers voiced SIM
liar opinions in letters to Secre.
tary Matthews in response to his
statement that it would be all
right for them to complain to him
through channels" but not pub
licly. The letters were stamped
top secret"
Full Consideration Urged.
Mr.. Matthews said in, an inter-
view Saturday that naval officers
had no reason for being dis.
turbed" over the Navy's future.
This appeared to be in direct vari-
ance with the views of the ad-
E1irals.
Mr.. Vinson told newsmen that
the complaints, in view of "the re-
sponsibility and high standing" of
the men whose names were signed
to them. merit full consideration.
He noted, however, that they
were not official documents
officially released and noted. too.
that there was a possibility that
propaganda on behalf of the
Navy might have been a motive
behind their publication. This
was in line with tips furnished
some newsmen sometime ago to
be on the lookout for a break"
similar to the blast of Capt. John
q. Crommelin. the Navy's OUT
spoken critic of uniflcation, Just
before the House committee was
to resume its investigation.
Opportunity to Testify Urged.
The three admirals, Mr.. Vinson
said. should be given an oppor-
tunity to freely express what is
on their minds, if they want to.
"They will be given that oppor-
tunity," he added. IF the national
security is endangered because Of
what may be going on, we want to
know about it and we want to
know all there is to know
The gist of the documents was
this:
/. A statement of Admiral Dem
field that a Navy stripped OF its
offensive power means a nation
stripped of its offensive power"
2, An assertion by Admiral
Began that Navy morale has sunk
almost to dependency" because
of the belief that the Nation was
being sold "a false bill of goods"
g.. A statement by Admiral Rad
ford that most Pacific Fleet OFF,
GERS concurred in views of Admiral
Began and Capt. Crommelin..
In Line With Matthews Order.
The series OF documents began
with a letter from Admiral Began
addressed to Mr.. Matthews and
sent via Admirals Radford and
Denfeld. This was in line with
Mr.. Matthews order to all COM
mands that any statements on
matters brought up by Capt.