Evening star., 1949-10-21
By Chris Muthisen

Defense Secretary Johnson, de-
Tending his economy program be-
fore the House Armed Services
Committee, declared today that
national defense should not be
and will not be run in the inter-
ests either of professional sea-
men, professional airmen or pro-
fessional soldiers"
He is running the Defense De-
partment in the interests of the
American people and world peace,
Mr.. Johnson said.
He assured the committee that
there is nothing firm about the
tentative economy goals, which
the Navy has contended would
have their most serious effect in
naval aviation.
Navy Secretary Matthews will
have full opportunity to furnish
him the Navy's explanation of
how the proposed cuts would di-
miniSh its readiness for combat,
Mr.. johnson promised.
Marshall Blames Money Problems.
The defense chief began his
testimony in the committees pub
lie hearing on defense strategy
and inter-service differences after
Gen. George c. Marshall, wartime
Army Chief of Staff, had told the
legislators money problems are the
real reason for squabbling among
the armed forces.
Gen. Marshall also told the COM
mittee that of necessity the funds
available for the armed services
must be divided in a way that
has only in mind the security of
the country"
That means, Gen. Marshall went
on, that "unification is absolutely
mandatory in my opinion
Secretary Johnson testified that
there exists in our present stra-
tegic concept of national defense
an essential and honorable role
for each of the armed forces"
Cooperation Essential.
obviously. a lack of co-opera-
tion by any one of the services
could jeopardize both national Sc
curity and unification. National
security is not a competitive enter
prise where one service can profit
al the expense of another"
The tone of Mr.. Johnson's state
ment was mild, and he devoted
himself largely to explaining how
he hopes to save approximately
$900,000,000 during the current
fiscal year within the Defense De-
partment. But he made these
other points:
/. That he does not advocate a
single chief of staff for the armed
forces, but believes m "the con-
cept of a chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff" and that he does
not favor imposing on any serv-
ice, nor on all the services, a gen.
eral staff type of organization"
2. That, despite rumors to the
contrary" he believes in a Ma
rine Corps trained and equipped
for amphibious operations" and
does not advocate shifting it away
from the Navy.
3. That "the war plans which
the Joint Chiefs of Staff have
unanimously evolved bear only the
slightest resemblance" to what he
said was an erroneous picture
given the committee by some wit
nesses." That "a straw man" was
built by those who contended that
1--WE expect to win war by push
button tactics and atomic blitz."
4. That the Navy has IF any,
thing, more than its share of key
positions" on the boards and
agencies of the Defense Depart
ment.
S. That nothing that has hap
pened" has caused him to change
his view that the Navy's super air
craft carrier project, which he can
celled, is not needed for the ma
tons defense.
6. That cross education among
the services as to weapons, includ-
I ing the Air Forces B-36 inter-
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