SINGLE UNIT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 243, 26 July 1947, Page 5

SINGLE UNIT

DEFENCE FORCES OF U.S.A. (Rec. 11.0) WASHINGTON, July 25. The House to-day completed Congressional action on the Unification Bill, merging the armed forces into a single defence unit. The Bill provides for the creation of an "independent air force under a single secretary who will have equal etatus with the secretaries of the army and navy, hut all without cabinet rank, and all three services will come under a new official “Secretary for Defence,” with cabinet - status. The Bill also provides for a Council of National Defence, of the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air, together with the chairman of a new National Security Resources Board, which would be created to co-ordinate military policy, also military, industrial and civilian mobilisation, under the direct authority of the President. The Bill retains the Marine Corps and the Navy Air Corps under Navy Department surveillance, thereby removing fears that they might lcee their identity in the merger scheme. The Bill integrates all intelligence functions in one central intelligence agency. The Bill has been sent to the President, whose approval is certain. The Navy Secretary, Mr James Forrestal, is expected to be appointed as Secretary of Defence.