998 
I think we are going to have to make some significant leap forward. 
I would put a question to you, and yet I suppose it is unfair. Don’t 
answer it if you would prefer not to. I may still put it. Would you 
rank in the area of major national priorities further great strides 
forward in the area of space exploration? Would you rank that above 
a major effort in the field of exploration and research and movement 
forward in the area of the atmosphere and the ocean ? 
Dr. Froscn. If I may express a personal opinion. 
Mr. Detienpack. Please. 
Dr. Froscu. I would not personally rank a major space effort above 
a major effort in the oceans and atmosphere. but please 
Mr. Dettenpack. You would rank the ocean and atmosphere above 
that ? 
Dr. Froscu. Yes, I would rank the ocean and atmosphere above 
that, but please understand that I don’t mean this to imply that either 
one of them should necessarily be zero or close to zero. 
Mr. Drettenpack. My question was deliberately aimed at not put- 
ting them at zero. I was concerned with ranking of a personal nature 
because this is obviously not a departmental opinion. But you in those 
circumstances would put a major effort in the atmosphere and oceans 
ahead of a further major effort in space ? 
Dr. Froscu. Yes, I would, but I think it is only fair to point out that 
as a professional I have been engaged most of my professional life in 
the ocean. 
Mr. Dettenpack. The Chairman didn’t really ask this question, but 
he made a comment on it in response to what was said by another com- 
mittee member. I don’t think this is the forum to develop it, but, the 
relatively recent attempt to amalogmate the Navy, Army, and Air 
Force under the Department of Defense was analogous because at the 
time this great leap forward was made there was great debate whether 
there would not be great injury to the individual component services 
in carrying out their functions. I won’t ask any of the professional 
officers present to comment as to whether the solution has been ideal 
today or whether they feel there are not still rough edges to the 
amalgam. 
TI think if we had private conversation with each branch of the serv- 
ice represented, there might be a minor issue or two, but that doesn’t 
mean that the totality of service to the nation has not been improved 
y this. a 
I think there is a real analogy, you see. It was a major step in the 
military field to do this. The decision was to do it. I think probably 
the concensus of opinion would be that the Nation has benefitted by 
this, with all the rough edges and all the difficulties. 
I think the problem we are facing now in the committee is the ques- 
tion of whether in the field of the oceans and atmosphere the same sort 
of nonperipheral great leap forward is not essential. 
Frankly, I was a former Navy man, but for a relatively short, time 
of 4 years. I feel very warmly toward the Navy and its concerns. I am 
very sympathetic. As one who works closely with the Army Corps in 
my district where they are involved with a great number of projects, I 
have great praise for the Army Corps in what is in many ways a civi- 
lian function, General, that the Army Corps serves instead of a mili- 
tary function. I think the Corps itself bridges very well this gap be- 
