Evening star., 1955-01-28
Secretary Thomas
Says Navy Can Meet
-Formosa Situation
By Cecil HoIIond

Dy SeCH tIOttouu
:. Navy Secretary Charles 8.
Thomas told Congress today the
Navy at its present strength can
cope with "any local naval ac-
tions" in the Formosan Straits
and Withstand "the initial on
slaught" In the event Of a major
conflict.
Mr.. Thomas testified before
the House Armed Services Com
~fnittee. He Joined with Admiral
Robert B. Carney, chief Of naval
ooerations. and Gen. Lemuel c.
Shepherd. jr.. commandant Of
the Marine Corps. in declaring
the Navy and Marine Corps
would retain their striking power
II the administrations proposed
cutbacks In personnel are APP
proved.
II believe that our naval pro-
gram is q balanced, flexible
and realistic one-one that win
give the country o fighting Navy
and Marine Corps adequate to
carry out whatever missions may
be assigned them outside Of q
major conflict" Mr.. Thomas
said.
Atom Subs Trial Hailed.
Mr.. Thomas told the com.
mittee the trial Of the atomic
powered submarine Nautilus
were Outstanding" and forecast
the use of atomic power In
other ships "tn the Yiot-to-dis-
tant future"
I'm my opinion" he added,
'it will come very fast--much
faster than we thought"
The Navy's program, Mr..
Thomas said. calls for building
more atomic submarines and he
said they would be constructed
in different shipyards.
Representative Short Of Mis-
souri,, ranking Republican mem
ber of the committee. asked
Mr.. Thomas to explain why the
Navy needs carriers Of the For
restal type. pointing out that
''many members Of Congress in
high places thought they were
outmoded."
Large carriers such as the
Forrestal are more important |
today than In any time in his
tory" Mr.. Thomas said.
Hard to Destroy.
He explained they were part |
Of a balanced complex Of fixed
and movable bases. have speed
up to 40 miles an hour, carry
heavy bombers and are Every |
hard to find and hard to de-
stroy."
Use Of such carriers, the
Secretary said. would make an
enemy territory more difficult
to defend and would dilute an
enemy's offensive effort because
Of the difficulty of searching out
such carriers and attacking
them.
The Navy has four such car
riers under construction and its
1856 budget Is asking funds for
o fifth.
Representative Rivers, Demo-
crat, Of South Carolina ex.
pressed concern over the ad-
ministration's proposed reduc.
ton In the strength OF the
armed services and wanted to
know If Mr.. Thomas was com
pletely satisfied with the reduce
tions you were compelled !. to
take" /"
Matter Of Leveling.
Mr.. Thomas, indicating that |
he was, said 1t was q matter Of |
leveling on on defense expendi- |!
lures for q long time to come. |
He added that "if there should |
be war with Russia this year or |
next you've got to go to about
mobilization at once"
In his prepared statement and
IN answers to questions, Mr..
Thomas emphasized that the
proposed Navy and Marine Corps
expenditures In the 1866 fiscal |
year represent. in view of world
conditions, the minimum re-
quirements for the long haul.
IF a major conflict should oc-
cur now or in the future" Mr..
Thomas said in his prepared
statement, this naval program
Is still designed to withstand the
initial onslaught. to contribute
Immediately to the Nations re-
taliatory power. and to provide
9 base for full and rapid mobil-
ization."
More Striking Power.
Admiral Carney testified that
the actual striking force OF the
Navy will be increased, despite
. reduction in men and ships.
by the addition on one attack
carrier and an additional air
group providing for an increase
OF 100 operating aircraft.
The administrations program.
Admiral Carney added, will pro-
vide q Navy with "the maximum
mobility, versatility and fiexi-
bility practicable"
Gen. Shepherd. emphasizing /
that the Marine Corps is pre-
pairing itself for hnfh 1iv,nitad a,,xs