U.S. NAVY MORALE: ALARM EXPRESSED BY HIGH OFFICERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1949, Page 6

U.S. NAVY MORALE: ALARM EXPRESSED BY HIGH OFFICERS

WASHINGTON, October 3.—Docu- J ments in which high United States Navy officers expressed alarm over the Navy’s morale and strength were secretly given to the press today. Ihe officers alleged that the Navy s offensive power had been reduced under the present unified defence policy. A naval source, who stipulated that his name must not be used, handed the documents to reporters. The documents included: — . T (1) statement by Admiral Louis, Denfeld, the Chief of Naval Opera- > tions, that “the Navy stripped of its offensive power means the nation stripped of its offensive power. . j (2) A warning by Vice-Admiral Gerald. Bogan, Commander of the Ist Task Fleet in the Pacific, that Navy morale had fallen to despondency because of confusion and bickering over the- Navy’s future role. . (3) 1 A statement by Admiral A. W. Radford, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, that most of his officers concurred in Admiral Bogan’s views and also those expressed by Captain John Cfommelin. (Captain Crommelin recently caused a stir by publicly saying that the Navy’s attacking power was being “nibbled to death” in Washington defence headquarters.) The surreptitious release _of the documents is the latest incident in rivalry between the Navy and Air Force for Congressional appropriations. Admiral Bogan outlined his views in a letter to the Secretary of the Navy (Mr Francis Matthews). Admiral Radford and Admiral Denfeld supported him in an appended letter. A Navy Department, spokesman said that Mr Matthews had been “quite disturbed” when he learned that a copy of Admiral Bogan’s letter had been given to the press. He had summoned Admiral Denfeld and other high officers for a conference. j Admiral Denfeld also was said to be i “very concerned” about the publica- ■' tion of his endorsement. He had im- • i tended his remarks to remain strictly ; a secret between himself and Mr 1 Matthews.