Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-06
Cannon Withdraws
Carrier Opposition;
Backs Arms Budget
By John A. Giles

BY John A. Giles
Chairman Cannon Of the
House Appropriations Committee
yesterday withdrew his opposi-
ton to construction Of a fifth
60,000-ton super aircraft car
rier and announced he would
support President Eisenhower's
military budget without change.
The Missouri Democrat said
I'VE must have complete una
ninity" under present world con-
ditions and show "our allies and
our enemies that We are
perfecting every possible weap-
on"
But Mr.. Cannon made 1t clear
he still believes the Forrestal-
class 1lattops are too vulnerable
to atomic attack to be worth
the money.
His switch did not cause too
great surprise at the Pentagon.
Officials there had privately pre-
dicted Mr.. Cannon would sup
port the program. although at
one time he had been adamant
In his opposition to the $197
million warship.
Sixth Ship Planned.
The Navy already Is going
ahead with plans for yet a sixth
of the huge ships. However, there
is some thinking that there
should be a hiatus after COM
pletion Of the present series Of
five while development of an
atomic power plant for large
vessels is worked out.
The Atomic Energy Commits
sion and the Defense Department
have awarded contract to
Westinghouse Electric Corp. for
developing nuclear propulsion for
large naval vessels. While ire
mendous progress is being made.
especially on the basis of expe-
rience gained from the atomic
submarine Nautilus, the con-
struction of a reactor for a car
rier is believed to be from three
to four years in the future.
Mr.. Cannon's change of heart
came as another House commit
tee planned hearings on the fea-
sibility of super carriers as a re-
suit of his opposition. The
House Armed Services Committee
will hold hearings tomorrow on
the Nays S1.3 million ship
building program. The session
will last one day.
The measure provides for the
construction of "a new warships
and the modernization of %
others.
Three Atomic Subs.
Included are three atomic subs
In addition to the super carrier.
The second of the series of such
submersibles, the Sea Wolf, is
scheduled to be launched at
Groton, Conn, this spring The
third also will be built at Gro
ton. But the Navy is anxious
to set up a second source of
supply for the boats and will
construct the fourth at the
Portsmouth IN. H Naval Ship
yard.
Navy Secretary Thomas and
other top Navy officials will be
asked to justify the shipbuilding
program.
Committee Chairman Vinson,
Democrat. of Georgia, said no
representatives of the other serv-
ices would be called. This closed
off the possibility of bitter fight
between supporters of the big
carriers and land-based aircraft.
Wants Other Opinion.
Representative Dorm, Demo-
crat, of South Carolina, an ad-
vocate of land-baSed aircraft.
said he thought the group should
call the Joint Chiefs of Staff and
get other qualified opinion" be-
fore authorizing the new fiat top
which the Navy plans to call the
Congress.
He said a number of Congress
members agreed with him that
the construction of more super
carriers was ridiculous"
But Mr.. Cannon said he did
not think there would be any
opposition to Mr.. Eisenhower
military program.
There should not be-" he
added.