Evening star., 1949-10-13
Readers Continue to Take Sides
In Mayfair Force Controversy

70 the Editor of The Star:
1t appears to this writer that congratula
tions are in order for David Lawrence for
his very nne article on the naval officers
status in The Star Of October and to the
writer signed SNIESSAH for his letter to
the editor on October 8.
It is indeed pity when professional
experts must risk their proven careers to
be heard on such serious topic as the
future welfare of these United States.
Secretary Of Defense johnson might do
we'll to remember he is dealing with men
who know their business and know 1t we'll,
men who have forgotten more about the
military and the security Of this country
than he will perhaps ever know. Bull
headedness and threatened head-bumping
might work in the "ism' countries but
surely not in America.
Mr.. Mathews. the newly appointed Secre-
tary Of the Navy, should be ashamed Of the
attitude apd the stand he has taken with
regard to the Navy. He is supposed to look
after the interests Of his branch Of the
armed services.
When the leading members Of this Ma
tion's Government fail to listen or take
heed. who else is there to turn to but the
Congress and the people?
What is the real story behind the resigna-
ton Of the former Secretary of the Navy
Sullivan. the so-called outbursts of Capt.
Crommelin and the top-rankirfg naval Off
GERS? Surely every one Of the Navy can't
be jealous. prejudiced or in error
It is high time the Defense Department
OF this country be taken neticulously apart.
piece by piece, and Strengthened out. Our
governmental leaders are supposed to be
good. clear, level-headed thinkers and an
example Of the American way Of life, so
what say you fellows up there display
little more Americanism so we down here
don't have to follow bunch of confused,
squabbling leaders?
The writer recalls famous quotation
which has long lived in this country: United
We stand. divided We fall The seeds of dis
satisfaction and confusion become the food
upon which Uncle Joe feeds.
CONCERNED AMERICAN.
To the Editor of The Star:
II it were not for the fact that time is of
the essence In preparation Of American de-
lenses, with the Russians able to fire q lethal
rocket from the Pripet Marshes to Alma Ata.
the absurd, contradictory talk Of the ad-
mirals before the Congressman in an effort
to save the u. S. s. Obsolete would be indeed
amusing. However. we have neither the time
nor the money to indulge the Navy in all
the things it wants.
1t Is most regrettable. indeed, to note that
retary johnson and order resumed the con-
struction OF highly vulnerable super-carrier
Wnen America needs, with the $188 0OO,-
QUO she would cost, 10 f1rst-class air bases
around the North American continent From
these bases countless aircraft could take
on: or. more effective STILL several hundred
seQuestered launching posts for homing mis-
sizes that would intercept enemy rockets
aimed at this country, and destroy them.
InnpnH ho o~;1 -
bruised ego Of the admirals, this huge sum
would be so SQuandered
That the Navy as fighting arm with its
Dig battleShtps, carriers cruisers, etc. Is
obsolete as the English long bow in this day
OF the atom bomb. will be admitted privately
BY any honest admiral. But just like the
British yeoman who welded the bow, the
Navy brass not only clings to its outmoded
' ideas but strives to obtain what is not naval
of the sea-but an aerial arm which be-
longs to the Air Force. Yet, less than a gen.
GRAFTON ago, it cleverly maneuvered it 50 that
Ar Force planes could not fly more than 800
miles of shore.
Doubts Altrlism Of Admirals.
That the Admirals are motiyated by purely
altruistic and patriotic objectives is open to
serious question. In an article for maga-
zine former Secretary Of War Stimson said
the Navy risked defeat of the United States
during World War II by exerting what 1t
thought was its prerogatives, rather than
give IN and cooperate with the Air Force
While one cannot question the courage of
such men as Capt. Crommelin, nor is the
courage of Navy personnel questioned here,
the point remains that aerial and rocket
developments Of the last two wars have made
naval operations obsolete
Like battleships, carriers are also obsolete.
Navy flyers know it. too. While with an
A. A. F. unit under Fleet Air Wing Is at
Fort Lyautey, Morocco In l943, the writer
often heard Navy air men complain Of the
hazards and limitations of carrier based
planes. and kept plugging for land-based
ones. And these fellows beef aplenty when
assigned to sea duty to learn how to operate
ships. Theirs Is the air
There is 1t seems, quite an easy way to
dispense for all time with this feud. It Is
believed the people will demand it, sooner
or later, once the truth is known.
1t would spare such fine officers as Capt.
Crommelin from embarrassment; it would
have saved the life Of able Secretary For
restal; 1t would conserve Americas billions
wasted in duplicated efforts in the Air Force
and Navy. 1t might save America from
defeat in the pext war.
And the way is this: Under the Constitu-
ton the President is Commander in Chief
ot Tic armed forceS. BY few strokes of
the pen he can transfer the Navy air auxil-
iary-personnel, planes and parachutes, and
ALTO the Air Force for integration into a
harmonious fighting unit. True, it may be
he'll have to fire or retire few recalcitrants,
but Americas safety must not be jeopardized
for the sake Of vain few. President Tru-
man can resolve this whole mess If he wants
to- and as Commander in Chief it now seems
clear that it is his duty to do so.
Newark, N j. CHARLES p BEAZIEY.
To the Editor OF The Star:
Whittier are we drifting in our national
policies II our naval officers must resort to
desperate and unusual methods Of getting
fair hearing for the Navy in this B-36 con-
troversy? The autocratic and high handed
rule OF Secretary johnson is something to
give one pause
What has happened to the Nayx,s leader