Evening star., 1949-10-20
Service Fight
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Service Fight
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ing that smacked of coercion in
any of the decisions made"
Speaking earnestly and leaning
forward in his chair, Gen. Eisen-
hover expressed confidence that
the current airing of divergent
defense views could end with real
inter-servfce cooperation.
Il just believe that from this
moment on we can make unif1ca-
ton work." he declared.
This country united can whip
the world"
The f1ve-star general was in
civilian clothes. He pointed out
that he appeared because the
committee asked him to, and he
noted by law he is on lifetime
active duty. But he maintained
he could see no purpose in his
commenting on any of the specific
charges and countercharges made
by the high officers of various
services who had preceded him
at the hearing.
Not Questioned.
He was not questioned by the
committee members. and Chair
man Vinson recessed the inquiry
after hearing his testimony. Mr..
Vinson said that Gen. Mark Clark
Army Field Forces commander
would be heard this afternoon
Gen. Collins, who was obliged
to cut short an inspection trip in
the Far East to testify. said
he wanted ito dispel any no.
ton that may have arisen during
these hearings that the Army is
pro-Air Force and anti-Navy."
Nothing is further from the
truth" he said. eve are pro-Air
Force and pro-Navy. because the
Army is dependent to large de-
gree on both of these great serv-
ices in playing its own role in de-
tense of our Nation, just as each
of them, in turn, is dependent
upon the Army"
Urges Mutual Trust.
Gen. Collins called for mutual
trust, confidence, wisdom and the
broadest understanding" among
the leaders Of all services.
I'VE have not the slightest pur-
pose to impose the Army's will
upon a sister service, he declared.
He pointed out that the Army
had agreed to give up control over
tactical aviation supported ground
troops when it acceded to the in
dependence of the Air Force. And
it turned over to the Navy it's
water transport system. he added.
Gen. Collins said these steps
were taken because the Army be-
lieved it was in the interest of an
efficient service unification.
Concerned at Charges.
He said he was concerned par
ticularly by the charge of Gen.
Clifton B. Gates. Marine Corps
commandant, that there is some
sinister plan on the part of the
Army seriously to curtail the COM
bat effectiveness of the Marine
Corps"
"In the short time have been
a member of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, have supported the present
organizational structure of the
Marine Corps whenever that mat
ter has arisen in connection with
war planning activities" he told
the committee.
Gen. Collins said it was true
that Gen Eisenhower, while Army
Chief of Staff in 1916, submitted a
memorandum to the Joint Chiefs
proposing that Marine units be
limited to regiment-size and the
strength of the corps fixed at
$4,000 to $4,000 men-the pro-
posals Gen. Gates said would re-
duce the Marines to a police
force"
Proposals Not Approved.
But, Gen. Collins said, those
proposals were not approved by
the Joint Chiefs Of. Staff, and I
have never heard. anything more
about it." 4
AS for the Collins plan" Gen.
Collins said. it just didn't exist
as threat to the Marine or the
Navy air arm. He. said it was
true that he was named as the
spokesman for "a joint group"
established in the old War De-
partment by presidential order in
1945 to work out a unification
plan for submission to Congress.
But, he said, when he went be-
fore a Senate committee to pre-
sent the recommendation six
times during the hearing I reiter-
ated that there was no intention
to eliminate the Marine Corps or
to eliminate the feet air arm, or
to transfer the latter to the Air
Force" -
He said the Marines fear that
the Army wants to take over their
amphibious function probably is
based on an Army proposal made
in a committee working under the
joint Chiefs that certain "joint