Evening star., 1949-04-23
johnson Orders
Work on Giant
Carrier Halted
Sullivan Instructed
To Suve Government
As Much as Possible
By John A. Giles

BY John A. Giles
! Defense Secretary johnson TO-
day ordered construction of tn,
Nays controversial 65,000-tol
super carrier discontinued a
once and at the least possible cos
1 to the Government"
Mr.. johnson said he had com,
to the conclusion that the build.
ing should be stopped after a dis
cussion with President Truman
and in the light of views expressed
by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The order. sent to Secretary o.
the Navy Sullivan. was as fol-
lows:
With further reference to thu
proposed aircraft carrier United
States. I have now received the
views of the Chiefs Of STAFF. and
after careful consideration ano
discussion of the matter with the
President, I have reached the
conclusion that appropriate orders
should be issued discontinuing the
construction of the vessel.
1S9 Million Estimated Cost.
Accordingly. you will issue
such orders as may be required
under the circumstances in order
that construction may be discon-
tinued at once and at the least
possible cost to the Government.
The estimated cost Of the car
rier, which President Truman
himself had named the United
States, had been placed at $780,
/, 600. 900. In addition. airplanes for
the ship had been expected to
cost o,0o0. 900 and $4,000, 900.
depending on types used. It could
have accommodated various COM
binations from a complement Of
"a heavy bombers to one of 100
fighters.
The cost OF terminating the con-
tract with the Newport News Ship
building Corp. could not be imme-
diately estimated. 1t will depend
on re-negotiations with suppliers.
New commitments for supplies
and parts for the carrier were
stopped about 10 days ago. and
defense officials said that the deci-
sion announced today had been
Under consideration for many
weeks"
Congress appropriated $9,000.-
900 for the ship construction in
the fiscal year ending June 80 and
the House has passed an appro-
priation bill for the next fiscal
year which includes $43 ,000. 900
for the ship. It's keel was laid only
last Monday.
Navy Has No Comment.
Whether or not construction
would be continued has been the
subject Of some speculation since
Mr.. johnson refused to comment
on 1t at o news conference last
week.
The Navy, under top level orders.
has remained silent on the build
ing Of its mightiest warship, and
today there was no immediate
on Mr.. Johnson's order
Construction Of the vessel has
been bitterly debated by Navy and
Air Force officers of a period Of
years.
The Navy contended that it |
would provide floating base for
jet bombers--a base which did not |
require friendly territory on the
other side of the ocean or
stands wrenched from the enemy
oy force, 1t admitted that the
,otal cost would be high-some
lnofncial estimates have placed it
IS high as $3.50, 900, 000-but 1t
that 10 such ships
,ould well be built for what 1t
would take for q self-defending
lirfield abroad with its pipeline
# ships and supplies.
The Navy has insisted that 1t
lad no intention to use bombers
rom the United States for stra-
egic bombing responsibility Of
he Air Force.
Air Force officers contended
hat the Navy was busiiy engaged
N a project aimed at proving It
,ould deliver the atom bomb more
effectively than the Air Force.
They said the ship was designed ,