Evening star., 1949-11-11
defense Secretary's Alleged Inconsistencies
Discussed With Bitter Emphasis


Defense Secretary's Alleged Inconsistencies
Discussed With Bitter Emphasis
To the Editor Of The Star: .--
with the extension Of American COM
mltments overseas, both in Europe and in
the Pacific, strong Navy is absolutely vital
TO the security of the United States, Be-
cause the naval air arm is a critical weapon
IN modern warfare, we could no more deny
tne neet Its carrier aircraft than we could
oeny ships their radar."
Ihe above statement sounds very much
ike something Admiral Denfeld had said.
Tor certainly it tends to coincide with his
known viewpoints on naval operations.
however such Is not the case The quotation
Is from an address made by the one person
VINO probably had more to do with the
ousting OF the Admiral than any other
person namely. Louis johnson.
Mr.. johnson was addressing the graduat-
ing class at the National War College here
IN washington some months ago when he
uttered those words and he even went fur
tner saying. Let me assure you that am
convinced OF our continuing need for carrier
aircraft"
In the same address, which I had the
privilege OF reading in so-called restricted
naval magazine, he referred to the Marine
Corps also. Said he, "At the same time I
reaf1irm the birthright of the United States
Marine Corps and its air arm. The Marine
Corps role In the future is guaranteed not
ny sympathy for its historical tradition but
Dy the proven necessity for equipping fleets
with assault forces for the seizure or defense
OF nsVal bases essential to the conduct Of
naval campaigns
If the Pentagon dictator honestly and
sincerely meant what he said in that ad-
oress how come record of contradictions
Gay IN and day out ever since? He can't
talK ike that one day and on succeeding
days order terrific cuts in naval expendi-
lures. lay ship after ship up in mothballs
aid and abet, If not foment retaliation
against a great admiral and at the same
Time nave the American people believe he
is either honest or sincere.
Sees Contradiction Of Congress.
There Is little wonder that responsible
naval officers have resisted, to some degree.
Mr. Johnson's theory of unifcation, which
IN itself Is contradiction Of what Congress
htenoeo IT should be and what the Amer
lean people thought it was going to be.
These naval officers land this appears to
me to be the crux of the whole situation
much more so than the B36) just cannot
60 to bed at night and awaken the next
day without finding Mr.. johnson doing the
contrary OF what he said yesterday And to
add further to their woes they cannot place
any faith or trust in the Navy Secretary.
Did not Mr.. Matthews who supposedly
ousted Admiral Denfeld talthough the. public
knows it was Mr.. Johnson. berate his
admirals one day before the recent con-
gresslonal investigating committee, only. to
come back few days later and publicly
proclaim that he believed very definitely
that proposed budget cuts affecting naval
and Marine aviation would impair the
Nations security? zl
1t is not enough that they pile up contra
diction after contradiction or that we have =
this exhibition of constant talking out of
both sides Of the mouth by these gentle-
men. To it is added Z brazen exhibition of
liquidation. by means of retaliation, a purge
II you please. against an admiral who just /
would not join in the doubletalk and the
contradictions.
Further Purxes Anticipated.
Who said. 1T can't happen here? True,
the proceeding was bloodless. But the act
was a purge. What's more, it's only the
beginning. Where 1t will end can be an
swered only by Mr.. johnson. seconded by
Mr.. Matthews. amened by President Tru-
man. .
The .ousting of Admiral Denfeld will not
lessen naval resistance to the johnson theory
Of unification. Indeed, 1t will strengthen it.
Neither will 1t appease the people. It will
but further embitter them. Messrs johnson
and Matthews should resign in the interests
OF unif1cation. for they and they alone,
are responsible for the present mess.
1t Is easy to conceive of those two incon1-
petents engaging in mischief against Admiral
Denfeld or any other naval officer who has
failed to "yes" them. But it is difficult to
imagine Commander in Chief SO discredit-
ing himself. and so diShonoring his Office.
q 10 IN hair ySaic
II Mr.. johnson honestly meant what he
said before the graduates as quoted above,
1t would seem that he was more in disagree
ment with his Naval Secretary and the
chairman Of his Joint Chiefs of Staff than
he was with Admiral Denfeld
If there are any more heads to roll in the
dust as an outcome OF the congressional in
vestigations. then I say let's save those Of
the competent naval officers and get rid Of
the incompetent civilian Secretary Of Navy
and the great Pentagon dictator.
sNKsAH.
Brotherhood Of Coaches and Manaxers
Az Aid To New Era in Sports
To the Editor of The Star:
First 1t was Joe Kuhel who lost his job |
with the Washington Senators and now It's |
Admiral John (Billick) Whelchel who has |
lost his job with the Washington Redskins. |
This isn't the first time that these situations |
have developed In the world Of sports.
Ten or more years ago when I was at |
tending high school and working in filling |
station week ends, I saw q similar incident |
happen. The station was continuously check |
ing up short in cash, so my employer said. I
Some ones got to CO." Some one was fired |
from his job even though there was no evi- |
dence OF any guilt involving this person. My |
employer was cropping In the dark trying to
find some sort of solution. Even though he
never had any way Of finding exactly where
the shortage Of cash was he knew that some
employe had to be discharged BY better
methods, particularly better
system Of internal control, he could have
kept better analysis OF where the money was
going ~ .z..-