The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1949-01-27
UNIFICATION OR NOT

UNlF1CATlON OR NOI --~.: =.
Even though it probably is true that the Ameri-
can rSple are not as informed as they should be
many public questions, there is no doubt but that
there is more enlightened people per square mile in
the U.S.A. today than ever before in history.
Reason for this unquestlonably is the easy ac-
cess people have to information. BY way or news
papers and magazines, radio news broadcasts and
comments and organs of propaganda, everybody
these days has opportunity to inform himself II
he wants to. z.--azs. .ss
! One of the questions in the forefront of public
consideration is the unficaton of armed forces
On that subject we have one idea angle from the
Industrial News Review the editorial service of
organized big business. And while we don't always
agree with the views of this propaganda effort we
often find food for thought in it's discussions On
the question of unifcation of armed services, it
says:
NEARLY two years ago, CONGRESS passed a law
called the national security act of 194 It's purpose
was Ito provide comprehensive program for the
future security of the United States Under this
law steps have been taken to improve the organiza-
ton and the efficiency Of the nations military estab
ishments. Unfortunately, the notion is widely held
til ntenC OF congress IN passing the law was the
outright and immediate unification of the armed
forces For example, the public has been given the
impression that the national security act intends
that we shall have air force and only one, and
that the Navy violates the spirit OF the law in not
turning over all it's air activities to the department
of the air forceIn reality, the law states lust the
opposite, by directing congress to provide three
military departments for the operation and admin
istration of the army and navy Gncluding naval
aviation and the marine corps), and the air force
It clearly states that the purpose is to provide for
the authoritative coordination of these agencies and
unified direction under civilian control but not to
merge them.
Senator Quincy, chairman of the armed service
committee, points out that neither the navy alone
the air force alone the army alone is capable Of
supplying the needed military strength of the United
States. IF congress believed one Of them could, it
would have taken steps to eliminate the other two
in the interest Of onomy. That this was not done
testfies eloquenty to congressional opinion concern
ing the need for all three branches.
NAVAL aviation is the heart Of the modern navy.
It is highly specialized branch of the military SER
vices It REQUIRES type of flying alien to any other
aviation activity And it is significant that the
Hoover commission, in studying the entire govern
ment structure, including national security, has
jected the idea of merging naval aviation with the
air force.
eff ever there was a time when the citizen and
the voter must exert himself to obtain accurate in
formation on public issues it is The controversy
over socalled unifcation Of the armed services is
case in point The real detectives are efficiency,
economy ana mntary preparedness. Unlficatlon
should not become catch word to trip the unwary.