The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1949-10-14
Inside
Washington
NAVY CAPTAIN
ANOTHER BILLY MITCHELL?
Special to Central Press

Washington-Some old Wash
ington hands thought they saw
the ghost of Gen. Billy Mitchell
about town when navy Captain
John j. 'Crommelin apparently
deliberately scuttled his career
by charging that the army and
air force had ganged up to de-
stroy naval aviation.
1t was Mitchell who defied
army and navy brass after the
World War to lash out at the
refusal of military leaders to
take the air arm seriously
enough. Mitchell was court
martialed, and died broken
hearted before seeing the
achievements of the airplane in
World War ii.
Crommelin was in line for
permanent promotion to rear
admiral. In fact, high navy of
ficers moved him into a rear
admiral's job, but navy secre-
tary Francis p. Matthews
countermanded the order when
he learned about it.
Crommelin is one of five navy
brothers, two of whom were
killed in the last war. He was
aware that secretary of defense
Louis Johnson was ready to
sign an order abolishing marine
aviation, and to transfer many
naval aviation functions to the
air force.
It is believed likely that many
young naval air career men,
who flew off carriers during the
war in the Pacific and who are
critical of some air force opera
tons, may follow Crommelin's
example and speak their minds
but loudly-and tragically.
Despite the strong campaign
the navy is waging to save its
present strength, most observ-
ers, including not a few higher
officers, are convinced that it
is a losing fight.
Johnson has already deliv-
cred to President Truman a pro-
posal that not only the air arm
be cut in half, but that four of
the remaining eight large air.
craft carriers be made inactive.
II would be unusual were Mr..
Truman to restore these cuts,
since they are in the defense
departments 1851 budget. De
partment estimates are usually
slashed.
Those favoring a navy slash
contend there is no potential
enemy navy of substantial size.
Russia's strength is in its SUBJ
marine service. Even were the
Soviets to develop a large sur
face fleet, it would be difficult
to concentrate it in either the
Atlantic or Pacific.
Johnson's budget recognizes
the sub threat. Anti-submarine
air groups, d~estroyers and pa
troll boats are spared from re-
auctions.
Look for a revival next year
of demands for a cut INTAKES.
The question is a dead issue for
this session but advocates of a
slash haven't given up hopes.
On the other hand, it is be-
lieved unlikely that President
Truman will renew his demands
for a tax increase. His original
request met with such over
whelming opposition, that he's
unlikely to bring up the SUBJ
ject again. Chairman Walter
George ID, Georgia, of the
Senate finance committee re-
portedly has informed some
business groups that the tax
question will come up in jan
uary.
The senator has written Ma
tional Associated Businessmen,
Inc, that a new bill dealing
with tax exempt corporations
will be taken up then. While
no mention is made of income
taxes, it seems certain that any
tax legislation will be threat
ened by income tax cut amend
ments.
President Truman's statement
that he may go into New York
state to help the senatorial cam
paign of former Gov. Herbert
H. Lehman means that the
Democrats plainly are worried
about the result of the special
election.
Senator John Foster Dulles
announcement that he will run
against Lehman in the Novem-
Der election gives the ex-gov-
ernor the strongest possible op-
position.
Dulles decision was based on
his belief that he has made a
good showing during his interim