Evening star., 1949-10-13
Navy
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Navy
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greatest damage will fall On no
combatants, many Of whom will
be women and children. not en-
gagged in the war effort"
Admiral Spruance, who last &C
tive duty assignment ending with
his retirement in July, 1948. was a
president of the Naval War Col
lege, told the committee that
while there he gave much
thought to the subject of a pos
sible war with the Soviet Union" :"
He said he considered it almost
certainty that the United
States would never start a war
with Russia and any conflict be-
tween the nations would be in
itiated by the Soviets.
Not Easily Won.
"In an intercontinental war;"
he said. Il consider it essential
that our front lines be established
on the enemy's continent, initially
as close to him as we can hold
and then be pushed closer as our
strength is built up. BY the en-
emy's continent. I mean the en-
tire Eastern Hemisphere. ."+~e.s .
Admiral Spruarice said he did
not believe in the idea that atomic
bombings would have an early
decisive effect in a future war. He
said it was his opinion that IAN
i1ltercontinentai war between
great powers, that start fairly
evenly matched in strength. is not
going to be won easily, or in a
short time, or by any single type
of arms or weapons"
Testimony by Gen. Eisenhower
was suggested by Secretary john
son recently when he asked Mr..
Vinson for a chance to reply to
Navy charges that defense plan
ners are overemphasizing strategic
bombing and are unsympathetic
to naval aviation.
Caught in Cross-Fire.
Mr.. Vinson said he had con-
ferred this. morning with Mr..
johnson concerning the timetable
for the balance of the hearings,
He said he wanted to hear from
Gen. Eisenhower and Gen. Brad
ley before letting Secretary John
son "give the committee and the
country his views"
Mr.. johnson, as civilian boss Of
all the armed forces. is caught
squarely in the cross-fire of the
angry controversy over military
policy.
He also has come in for harsh
words from some Congress men,
bers because he made plans to cut
back appropriations that Congress
is working on for the Navy.
Mr.. Vinson publicly accused Mr..
johnson yesterday of making "a
grandstand play" by economizing
on Navy funds. He said the COM
mittee sis to have a lot to say
about this
Willing to Hear Crommelin.
There was no objection to Mr..
Wilson'S schedule, but several COM
mittee members drew from him
assurances that today's windup of
the Navy's case would not prevent
later Navy testimony If it ap-
peared desirable.
AS to Capt. John Crommelin,
the suspended naval airman,
whose blasts at defense policies
spotlighted the current hearings,
Mr.. Vinson said he would have no
objection to hearing him If other
members of the committee want
ed his. testimony.
Mr.. Vinson lashed out at Mr..
johnson for planning an $780,
600, 900 cut in defense spending
this year before Congress has
completed action on the appro-
priation for the Defense Depart
ment.
Mr.. vinson said if Mr. johnson
knew the armed forces could get
along with that much less. he
should have told congressional
appropriations committees about
it, instead of preparing to make
a record for himself" bygecono-
MIXING after Congress grants the
funds.
Admiral Richard L. Conolly,
Navy commander In European
waters, told the committee yester-
day that the forces which would
be at his disposal in the event Of
an emergency would be well below
minimum requirements of the
job he would be called on to DO.
Vice Admiral Robert B. Carney.
Navy logistics chief and member
of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff Budget
Advisory Committee. testified that
the Nays first opportunity
to make a detailed presenta-
| ton at the Pentagon as to why
Mr.. Johnson's PROPOSED economies