From the mists of Washington indecision, the shape and scope of a defense mechanism to serve the nation began to emerge. The shape was still blurred at the edges, but the size of the projected machine was unmistakable and staggering in its vastness. It would make the U.S. a nation under arms, with more men watching the ramparts than in the perilous days of 1939-41.
The Navy was the first to show its blueprint to Congress. Last week it unrolled a colossus-sized plan to keep 1,079 ships (half as many again as the combined navies of Britain, France, Russia and...
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