384 AISTNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1961 



submarine-Polaris-missile concept, which, for all its virtues, has cer- 

 tain limitations as to communications, timing, and attack potential. 

 It will almost certainly have to include a new concept of an extremely 

 fast surface fleet capable of firing missiles accurately, shifting its 

 base materially at a moment's notice, and capable of utilizing any 

 patch of water as a launching site for any type of missile needed. The 

 idea, which conceives of firing the missile from the surface of the 

 water itself, requires pinpoint navigation and new missile technology 

 rather than radical approaches to naval shipbuilding. In other words, 

 it is new weapon handling technique that will be essential, not revo- 

 lutionary types of ships. 



Wlien viewed through political and economic eyes, this extra re- 

 liance on the sea assumes doubled import. Government officials and 

 others well versed in international affairs and the economic facts of 

 life are aware that the United States is not likely to keep military 

 bases throughout the world forever. At the same time, such bases 

 are an added liability (in the sense of being targets) when placed on 

 American soil. 



They may be kept partially in the air or, someday, in space. But 

 the sea is also looming as a likely locale, since it will have virtually 

 all the advantages of foreign or sky-based launch sites, few of the dis- 

 advantages, and seems to offer a more practical and generally cheaper 

 way of doing the job. 



Thus it appears that the role of the Navy in the security picture, 

 far from diminishing with the revolutions of our times, may become 

 more comprehensive and conclusive than it has ever been — despite 

 the many innovations and changes in seagoing missions, methods, and 

 machines. 



SEARCH FOR LIVING ROOM 



Recognition of the growing population problem is now fairly wide- 

 spread. During the 1950's, its warning was sounded frequently 

 enough and the evidence became concrete enough to initiate serious 

 thinking on the consequences of overpopulation. 



Still, and in spite of dire warnings from the sociologists, most of us 

 tend to toss off the matter as something we cannot do anything about. 

 Or else we persist in treating it as too remote to warrant doing some- 

 thing about right now. 



Both attitudes seem fallacious. Certainly the second one is. To 

 determine how much so, one need only glance at the United States. 

 It required 300 years for the American population to reach the 1910 

 level of 90 million persons. Yet in the past 50 years that number 

 has doubled. It will double again before the turn of the century, 

 unless the birth rate slackens or some disaster wipes out great segments 

 of the population. 



