Evening star., 1950-03-01
'DenfeId Custer Called
'ReprisaI' in Report
OF House Committee
By John A. Giles

fall "a reprisal'' for his testimony
on Capitol Hill.
Removal of the admiral, whose
( testimony was critical of unitica-
tions and defense policies, was "a
blow against effective representa-
live government in that it tends
TO intimidate witnesses and hence
uiscourages the rendering OF free
sand honest testimony to the Con-
.gress," the committee added.
=. - The committees report of its
Investigation into the bitter uni
ication row said the Denfeld
custer violated promises made by
Defense Secretary johnson and
Navy Secretary Matthews and
provisions of the unification law
itself. Both Mr.. johnson and Mr.
Matthews have denied that the
!. removal was in reprisal for the
admiraFs surprise testimony.
y, Release of the report came the
same day that Admiral Denfeld
formally retired from active serv-
tee after 38 years of duty.
Ten Urge Criminal Charges.
The report considered a number
! Of controversial matters on unfit
q cation and strategy but only on
the Denfeld custer was there a
difference of opinion in the COM
mittee.
! A majority of % members in
dorSed the findings, with 10 OF
/, these objecting, however, that the
report was too weak.
. A minority of eight members
all Democrats - found it toe
strong.
The 10 members-one Demo
crat and nine Republicans-urgeo
the Attorney General to consider
charges against Mr.. Matthews un-
der a 1948 law which forbids the
influencing and intimidating OF
congressional witnesses. Their &C
tions were embodied in a supple
mentary report filed with the
committee.
Representative Hebert, Demo-
crat. OF Louisiana, in lively closed
session yesterday lost by vote of
20 to IL an attempt to get the
whole committee to approve in
vestigation of possible criminal
action against MIR. Matthews. He
then sponsored the supplementary
report.
Representative Walsh, Demo-
crat, of Indiana, criticized the
prepared report" and its views
on the Denfeld custer as intended
to embarrasss, President Truman
and defense officials.
The f.committee also concluded
that
1. It will sponsor legislation to
require rotation of the chairman
ship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
among the services on a two-year
term and to add Gen. Clifton
B. Gates, Marine Corps COM
mandant. as a member "to in
sure.'--+ = adequate consideration
OF the view of all the services"
Q. Military air power consists of
planes of the Air Force, Navy and
Marine Corps and not the Air
Force alone. And "of this, stra-
legic bombing is but one phase. -
- 3. Navy leaders are not opposed
TO the Air Force concepts of stra-
1egic air warfare if it does not
-mean mass aerial bombardment
-ef urban areas.
sss ALI Services at Fault.
= 4. Difficulties between the Navy
Ind Air Force will continue be-
Eause of fundamental profess
-xonal disagreements. Services
~prejudices. jealousies and thirst
.1or power and recognition have
-4ad only bare minimum of in
r6uence on the controversy.
- 5. There are no unification
sIuritans at the Pentagon" and
aall services have been at fault, at
zone time or another in the uni
4rAcation effort.
~. 6. The Air Forces B-36 bomber
and the Navy's Banshee jet fight
eEr should be pitted against each
luther ito eliminate or at least
reduce the tensions between the
services" and contribute to their
combat effectiveness.
-.- McNarney Job Opposed
-. 7. Mr.. Johnson's management
.Eommittee should not be headed
-W Gen. Joseph T. McNarney o1
The Air Force because appoint.
sssypent of an officer to head a tor
civilian committee is an unfor'
etanate and undesirable preceden
which inverts the civilian contro
~concept so closely identified with
:sNnif1cation.'
.ssss ~~- The report struck out at MI
-Iphnson's "hasty decisions ant
.5Husque dismissals of honesty helt
sHrvice opinions" without actual.
s95aming the defense chief.
--z Prudent administration of uni
Acation, sensitive to the man.
Inponderables of spirit and emo
Zion and service loyalties, Cal
greatly ease service tensions ant
.xiifficulties over the years tina
must pass before cross education
.of the services will truly produc'
the 'one armed force concept" /
declared.
- The report said the committe
.sheplores" the manner in whicl
Mr.. Johnson abruptly cancele,
reconstruction of the Navy's IS, 1000
ten flush deck aircraft carrier.
@e- The Navy had laid the keel o
sfhe huge vessel when Army ant
Nr Force representatives voted il