The U.S. Navy
To the Editors:
Re your story "Attack on the Navy" [May 8]: keeping the sea lanes open is vital to the future of Western Europe and the U.S. The more significant the disparity between U.S. and Soviet naval power, the more serious the threat to the security of the free world. It is imperative that the U.S. increase naval expenditures to meet the Soviet challenge.
Robert Frisby
Rockville, Md.
In evaluating our Navy, we should recall some of its famous mottoes: "Don't give up the dollars," "I have not yet begun to spend," and "Damn the budget cuts, full shipbuilding ahead." Then there is that service's great battle hymn: "Billions away, my boy, billions away..."
Roddy Donoghue
Holyoke, Mass.
Economics dictates strategy. Period. If the Navy doesn't understand this, they'll surely sink our economy through unwise overspending.
Dan Taylor
Parthenon, Ark.
As a Marine I served aboard a five-ship convoy stationed in the Mediterranean during 1976. Our ships were rusty, overworked and in general need of a good overhaul. The Russian ships we encountered were sleek, efficient and menacing looking compared with ours. I was impressed by the Russians, and at the same time I feared for the navy that had to tangle with them. Let's get our Navy back in shape so there will be no question as to who is No. 1 in seapower!
Arthur M. Hays
Tallahassee, Fla.
The story left me frustrated in the realization that the American public must determine the Navy's role in our overall defense program. If the pros can't decide, how can an average landlubber who isn't even sure of the difference between radar and sonar be expected to come up with answers to profound technological questions?
John C. Rose
La Jolla, Calif.
America's Cheops
Robert Hughes' generosity in praising the National Gallery's new East Building [May 8] is far too restrained. It's an achievement in land use, light play and mass as visceral as the pyramids. Thank God this country has a Cheops like Paul Mellon to allow us the esthetic bravado of the likes of I.M. Pei.
Rice Hershey
Cleveland
As every visitor to the museum will notice, there is a small label next to the art object telling who the donor is, Mellon, Kress and so on.
How about changing the wording of the label to "Donated by the labor force of the U.S."? They are the ones who help the donors amass a fortune so they can pursue their hobbies.
Paul Greenhood
Silver Spring, Md.
How idyllic Paul Mellon's English summers must have been, that years later millions of dollars should have been used for what you call systematic collecting and I call pillage of much of Britain's artistic soul.
Do not be fooled. It is 300 years of British culture and artistic patronage that have endowed the Yale Center.
John Essame
Mound, Minn.
The National Gallery of Art is sheer delight. Thanks to Mr. Mellon for such a magnificent gift, and thanks to TIME for telling others about it.
Barbara Whitlock