Just Big Mo

Because of "revolutionary developments in underwater warfare," the Navy last week drew one light carrier and eight destroyers out of mothballs. To help provide the men to man them, the Navy retired the battleship Iowa to the inactive list.

Of the U.S. Navy's 15 modern battleships, only the Missouri is now in active service, 14 are now assigned to the Zipper Fleet. The big ships still possess some utility as antiaircraft support for carrier forces. But even the Navy's crustiest battleship admirals concede that the day of the battlewagon is all but done.

The Navy had its wings clipped again last week--and the Air Force gained some feathers. Defense Secretary James Forrestal, after a conference with his Chiefs of Staff at Newport, R.I., laid down the law on who does what when war comes.

The Navy got full command of all antisubmarine and naval actions, whether naval or Air Force planes were employed. But the Air Force got absolute control over all strategic bombing, whether launched from bases or Navy carriers.

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