BLANDY STATES CASE FOR BIG U.S.A. NAVY

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1949, Page 5

BLANDY STATES CASE FOR BIG U.S.A. NAVY

(Rec. 9.20). WASHINGTON, Oct. 11. Admiral William Blandy, Cbmmandei’ of the United States Atlantic Fleet, to-night urged Congress to prevent further “unwarranted” cuts in navy strength. Testifying before the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, Admiral Blandy said that any furture war with Russia would be a long global struggle, and not merely an atomic blitz. He expressed the hope that Congress would amend the law for the unification of the armed forces.

Admiral Blandy referred to the Defence Secretary, Mr Johnston’s, order cancelling the construction of a sixty-thousand-ton aircraft carrier. He said that the United States would quickly lose command of the seas if the Navy were forbidden to build bigger and better future. Admiral Blandy raised these points: Firstly, if war broke out, the Russian army would have little difficulty in overrunning Western Europe, and in capturing its vast industries.

Secondly, the United States surely did pot intend to obliterate the cities and factories and people of its Western European allies with atomic bombs.

Thirdly, the United States ground forces would have to move across tjie sea, as they did in the Second World War, to dislodge and defeat the enemy. A powerful navy was needed to protect and control the sea highways. Admiral Blandy also challenged the argument that there was no need for a big navy because Russia was a non-naval Power. He said that the Navy lost ten thousand men at Okinawa, where there was no enemy fleet.