Evening star., 1949-10-04
Booon's Letter and Endorsements

CcT0tU r. 6OyuU, COHtHLuItuST
OF the 1st Task Fleet in the
Pacific. to Secretary of the
Many Matthews concerning
Capt. John G. Cronn,elin, and
the Endorsements BY Vice Ad-
miral A. w. Radtord, Pacific
Fleet commander, and Admiral
Denteld, chief OF Naual Oper-
atoms:
Admiral Bogan's Letter.
My Dear Mr.. Secretary:
At the beginning it is proper for
me to state that in no manner
have I, to date, Endorsed or con-
demned Capt. Crommelin's state
ment because no one has asked
me to do so. Had such been the
case honest necessity and con-
science would have required hearty
and complete agreement with the
amrmations made in his release to
or interview with the press.
Your dispatch, which prompts
this letter, is surprising in its in
depreciation of the motive in the
basic statement. 1t AYERS that the
Crommelin statement and subse-
quent public utterances have en-
barrassed the progress of uniflca-
ton and harmony and the Navy
Department. 1t further states
that these remarks have been in
spired by apprehensions concern
ing the future of naval aviation
Mr.. Secretary, while realizing that
this is your honest belief, that in
depreciation of the genesis OF
Crommelin's release is the most
superficial gloss and does not re-
motely touch the heart Of the
question. The basic reason behind
all of it is a genuine fear in the
Navy for the security of our coun-
try if the policies followed in the
Department of Defense since the
National Security Act became law
are not drastically changed, and
soon.
Testimony Recalled.
It is necessary for me to assert
now to you that I opposed the
act as written and passed and so
testified before the committee.
My reasons for opposition and
suggestions for other methods OF
achieving ultimate unity in the
military establishment were given
at that time. l July l947. l
forecast much Of what subse-
uuently occurred. Records OF
that testimony are available. The
creation of three departments or
sub departments where formerly
there were but two is not unif1ca-
ton. Under the present law it
can be made to and does operate
effectively in the field. But it
would be sheer balderdash to
assume that there has been any,
thing approaching it among the
secretariat, the joint staff, or the
high command of all three serv-
ices. Knowing that honest diff
ferences of opinion must cor
stantly be present. pickering is
still the rule; unanimity is non-
existent.
The morale of the Navy is lower
today than at any time since !
entered the commissioned ranks in
1916. Lowered morale, to some
degree. may be expected to follow
any war during the readjustment
to the organization for peace. In
my opinion this descent, almost
to dependency. stems from COM
plete confusion as to the future
role of the Navy and its advan-
tages or disadvantages as a perm
anent career. Optimistic letters
and plans issue from Washing
ton. And concurrently the situa-
ton deteriorates with each press
release. The younger men are nee
essarily concerned with their
future security. We Of greater age,
and, we hope, more mature judg-
ment are fearful that the country
is being. if it has not already
been, sold a false bill Of goods.
Junior officers in large numbers.
whose confidence I enjoy. have
come to see me asking advice on
their future course of action. I
have invariably encouraged them
to enhance their professional
ability against the day when the
troublesome questions now para
mount would be equally resolved
1t is becoming increasingly diff
cult for me to do this honestly.
No Cheap, Quick Victory.
# the adequate military or de-
fense establishment could be
achieved without a Navy and naval
aviation, l would gladly advocate
using funds now expended to
maintain that service. on the pro-
curement of the best other nee
essary weapons and equipment.
Not even the United States can
support indefinitely. during peace,
the tragically large military budg-
cts we are now devouring.
There is no cheap, quick victory
possible between any two nations
or groups OF nations each having
strong. even if relatively unequal,
power. Yet at a time as poten-
TALLY critical as ever existed dur
ing our history. the public has
been lured into complacency by
irresponsible speeches by advo-
Gates of this theory. The result
could be a great national and
worldwide catastrophe.
have been informed that when
the committee hearings resume in
October the Navy will be afforded
the opportunity to state its case
completely on the items compris-
ing the agenda. Since Capt. Crom-
melin's press statement, I am more
optimistic than before that such
will be the case. But the agenda
does not cover the fundamentals
of our national security. It en-
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