Evening star., 1949-06-03
Annapolis Graduates
Hear Matthew'S Urge
Smooth Unificafion
By T. N. Mcdowell
ssar StcH Correspondent

ssar steH Correspondent
- ANNAPOLIS, June 3-A cal
for smooth-running unification oi
the armed services was sounded
by Secretary Of the Navy Mat
thews at Naval Academy gradua-
ton exercises today.
se. Mr.. Matthews, In his first pub.
lie utterance as Secretary, re.
minded his naval audience of "the
wise national policy which in the
United States has always en-
trusted military operations te
specially educated and technical.
ly trained personnel. and reserved
It's top administrative authority to
civilian direction"
1T emphasizes democracy's de-
termination to keep a firm check
on the military" he told those
assembled In the Naval Academy's
historic Dahlgren Hall. To-day 1t
applies equally In the Army, the
Navy and the Air Force"
First Speech in Office.
1t was the former Omaha law
yer's first speech since his ap-
pointment May Is. He succeeded
John L. Sullivan. who resigned
after q dispute with Defense Sec
retary johnson over the latter's
order canceling construction of q
supersize aircraft carrier. Charges
have been made that Navy morale
has been shaken by this incident.
The new Secretary made no ref
erence to the dispute but did de-
vote q portion Of his address to
discussion Of pending legislation to
tighten the service unification law.
MIR. Matthews told the Naval
Academy graduates they could be
confident that the new legisla.
ton will not alter fundamentally
the traditional concept of naval
power nor the fundamental ne
cessity for American superiority
on the seven seas" He added:
II believe the legislation In
prospect will materially strength
en- the power and authority Of the
Secretary Of Defense, and, I
think, very properly So
The Nevy intends to cooper
ate in every way as a member of
the new national defense team to
hasten achievement" of complete
unification, Mr.. Matthews as
serted.
I'VE no longer rely on the for
mer safety factor of wide oceans
and great distances to retard an
enemy's attack in case Of war"
he warned.
Much Yet to Be Done.
As q result, he said, this coun-
try's new military setup has
emerged. but much remains to be
done toward complete team
unity Of our armed forces"
=. This Is not the time for in
decision or defeatism in any seq
ment Of our population or In any
branch Of the Armed Service" he
stated "This is not a time for the
display of weakness. but for the
mastering Of strength"
Mr.. Matthews was introduced
at the graduation exercises by
Rear Admiral James L. Holloway.
jr., superintendent of the Naval
Academy. Former Secretary Sulli-
van attended the ceremonies. 81
The exercises. which began at II
am, ended as 100 graduating
midshipmen tossed their caps into
the air. OF the graduates, 80 are
from the Washington area, in
cluding Wesley A. Brown, 1905 @
street, first colored middle to get
In ensign's commission.
! June Week ended with the
graduation.
F.. 80 Per Cent Will Wed Soon.
/. Forty couples will pass down
the aisle of the Naval Academy
chapel between 2 pm. today and
7p.m. Sunday. Two more couples
will be married June II. More
than 80 per cent Of the graduat-
ing class will be married before
they return from leave.
: The graduation exercises opened
With an invocation by Comdr. r.
e. Bishop, Naval Academy chap
lain.
Diplomas were presented after
Mr.. Matthews speech.
Oath Of Office to those being
commissioned was given by Ad-
miral Louis E. Denfeld, chief Of