Evening star., 1949-09-16
New Gag on Military
Seen as Chief Idea
In Capital Nowadays
Johnson-Indorsed Order
Called Backward and Step
Toward TotuIitoriunism

,SuIiSu OuSNWuIu UUQ StSp
Toward TotoIitorionism
By David Laurence
Thought control and the total
itarian idea that a man in uni
form loses his constitutional right
of free speech seems to have be-
come the prevailing notion in a
new phase of the militarism that
seems dominant in Washington
nowadays.
The Air Force actually has for
hidden its officers to speak on
matters of national concern-the
problem of what kinds of aviation
are the most effective and what
part airpower shall play in the
national defense of the future.
Air officers have just as much
right as aircraft manufacturers
Or aeronautical engineers or lay
men to discuss airpower and how
the Nations defense might be
strengthened. Comparable sub
jects, such as seapower or land
army tactics. have always been
discussed in the past. 1t is quite
novel for an armed service to
prohibit discussion and to issue a
gag order Of this kind.
Illusory Idea Sanctioned.
The illusory idea that unfit
cation" is some kind of a sacro-
sanct subject which cannot be dis
cussed by the very men who know
most about it is now given official
sanction. Secretary Of Defense
johnson has publicly indorsed the
gag" order. Not long ago his
Office also sought to "co- ordinate"
testimony that would be given be-
fore the House Armed Services
Committee. This "co-ordination"
was so successful that the House
committee heard a one-sided story
and to date has not permitted the
companion service on aviation
the Navy's air arm to have its
say.
Throughout the other armed
services the gag order might just
as well be in effect. For naval
officers are astounded that Cap
tain Crommelin, naval hero, has
been removed from his regular
post and. in effect, disciplined
by Secretary of the Navy Mat
thews because he spoke his mind.
Evidently a naval officer today
cannot communicate with or talk
to q member of Congress. or tell
his views to anybody else outside
the armed services who might pub
lish them, without fear of punish
ment. Rumors of overlapping
OF. telephones among members Of
the armed services are quite wide
spread.
To use security" as a cloak for
suppression or freedom to discuss
or to debate abstract questions of
defense policy is to abuse the word.
Capt. Crommelin earned his right
to perform duties in connection
with naval aviation by his heroic
record in the Pacific. But that
record is brushed aside now by
Secretary Of the Navy Matthews,
who joins the chorus of those who
call Capt. Crommelin indiscreet.
Since when is it improper. for an,
American citizen to speak his mind
on national policies?
+. Days Of -Prussianism.
Militarism in the days of
Prussianism and Naziisln in Ger
many meant that every one in
uniform lost his. rights as an In
dividual. He became part Of a
military machine. In America
1t has always been assumed that.
when a man donned his uniform,
he still had a right to commune
cate with his member of Congress
and to express his views so long as
they were not critical Of persons
in the services.
Capt. Crommelin had q right
to criticize the existing unfit
cation law because of its excessive
concentration of power. He had
q right to call attention, if he
wished, to the attempt in that law
to prevent persons in the armed
services from expressing their
views to Congress. Laymen are
unable to form intelligent con-
clusions and public opinion is
seriously restrained from getting
all the facts when the men who
are experts in national defense
are silenced and prevented from
speaking freely on matters that
are Of concern to the Nations
safety. ..o-
The American people have heard
. one-sided story on aviation.
They have not been given the
facts. Now when the debate
reaches its most interesting phase
"a reaction against one -sidedness
the Department Of Defense, in
stead Of encouraging healthy dis
cussion, actually favors suppress
sion of free speech and of written
expressions of opinion coming
from persons in the armed serv-
ices. 1t is a backward step and
reminiscent of the militaristic age
and the customs Of the military
machines in totalitarian countries