Evening star., 1949-10-21

we read OF parents with SadiStic tendencies
toward their children, which of course, does
not place all parents in the same category.
What seems at present to be the brightest
hope on the horizon for both the military
and civilians is that Congress irrespective
OF precious time and weary bodies, has
chosen to listen. In unravelling the ball of
yarns, it has found the key which was buried
in the center.
MARGUERITE M HAMILTON.
Fears Military Dictatorship.
To the Editor of The STAR
was quite alarmed after recent CONVEX
sation with a former educator and retired
Army officer to learn that their concept Of
the present House Armed Services Commit
tee hearing, to quote. "is entirely matter Of
the B-36 performance and rivalry between
the Navy and the Air Force.
How can our taxpayers be so uniformed?
Don't they realize that the B-36 is just q
symbol? A symbol of power concentrated
in the hands of small group of people.
This is not an interservice squabble. 1t is
battle which our forefathers thought they
had forestalled by their foresight in estab-
fishing Constitution with Congress and
Senate as a check and doublecheck against
totalitarianism, fascism or any other kind of
ism that leads to dictatorship.
The machinery is set up, undoubtedly. for
the House Armed Services Committee found
that with the stroke Of pen a secret slash
in funds allocated to the Navy had been
made-unknown to Congress or their con-
stituents. Where is so great a power, vested
in so few, to lead us?
We Americans seem to have the ''it can't
happen to us" idea. 1t can, and power
hungry individuals or uninformed indi-
viduals, with the complete power of the
mill tow iya fhnir hor could 1ooI
this country into disaster. M. P. H.
Political Assault on Navy Charged.
To the Editor Of The Star:
It is nothing short Of tragic that the
leaders of the Navy OF the United States
have been compelled to abandon their tradi-
tion Of non-intervention in politics, to de-
fend themselves against the assaults Of
politicians of our time. The Navy comprises
group of men who through generations
have exemplified the high-minded traditions
Of honor. skill and loyalty that are their
singular and collective glory
Even in our times the exploits of Dewey at
Manila astounded the world At the Paris
Peace Conference, II the Navy had not been
overruled by the politicians, there would
never have been the war with Japan For
the following Disarmament Conference at
Washington, American politicians agreed
at the behest Of Great Britain, to sink or
destroy 747,000 tons of naval ships, built
or under construction Constituting 40%
OF the Navy and stop building any more.
Don't again cripple the Navy and destroy
its indomitable spirit! N. F. WuMOTH.
Sees Navy "Outmoded rs an Oxcart"
To the Editor OF The Star: -"
Please permit me to be presumptuous also,
and offer my thanks for the statesmanlike
article by Henry McLemore Con the inter-
service controversy. I, too am q citizen,
do have family and do love my country
AS such, am utterly ashamed OF some
sections Of our Departments Of Defense and
fear for our safety, under the present cir
cumstances. --~~,~ .~.
In view Of the disgraceful lack Of defense at
Pearl Harbor. it is indeed presumptuous for
the Navy brass" and not on the part of Mr.
McLemore, to offer their expert advice"
to our Congress for the defense of our
country. How many ignoble defeats do they
think our people can forget? Are we, now,
SO infantile and moronic as to accept their
advice? The "brass Of their voices" should
be forever silenced. Certainly these die
hards are fighting harder to maintain Navy
that is as out-dated as the oxcart than they
did at Pearl Harbor
CHARLES L. DICKSON
Importance of Naval Air Power.
To the Editor Of The Star:
1t seems that some of your readers forget
rather quickly the role of naval air power
IN the last war. 1t also seems that they
embrace an exaggerated opinion of the
capabilities OF the present day land-based
fighters and light bombers.
l. Which air force made the pre-
invasion strikes against the Philippines.
thereby reducing the number Of Japanese
land-based bombers and fighters, sinking
Japanese warships in Manila Harbor and
practically cutting of their supply lines from
Japan?
2. Which air force closely supported the
ground troops in the initial weeks of the in
vasion and protected the Armys supply line
from New Guinea and Australia?
3. Which air force saved some 600-odd
amphib1ous and cargo vessels, not to men
ton practically the entire Sixth Army from
certain annihilation in Leyte Gulf at the
hands of two large japanese -battleship and
cruiser units in what is known as the Second
Battle of the Philippine Sea? A third Jap
battleship was destroyed simultaneously in
the Surigao Straits by the old battleships
of the Seventh Fleet
And you will recall, it was not the Army
Air Force that did these things 1t could
not possibly have been, nor would it be pos
sible today. Land-based fighters and light
bombers do not have the range necessary
for such initial support operations. Army
Air Force units have always done good job
within their operational limits, but they
must have air fields within range Of the
combat area In order to function.
DONALD E. CROSS.
Thinks Joint Chiefs Out of Balance.
To the Editor Of The STAR
May I call to the attention Of the editor
and the public that the Joint Chiefs of
Staff of the armed forces consists Of two
Army men. one Navy man and still third
Army man at its helm.
Should not naval aviation and the Ma
rines with Marine aviation, have represen-
tation on this staff?
Could not former Secretary Sullivan shed
much light on how and why the new air