Evening star., 1943-06-18
Army Fund Bill
of II Billions
Given 10 House
Biggest Measure
In History Triples
World War Cost
BY She Associated Press,

by me hsSOC16teO ITeSS.
The House Appropriations
Committee fired a financial
broadside at the Axis today.
sending to the floor a $71,5l0,-
438,873 War Department supply
bill to equip and maintain an
Army Of 100000 men.
The strength of the Army will be
6,500.0O0 at the end of June, accord
ing to present estimates.
Largest appropriation bill in his
tory, it boosted to almost 5000 0O0,-
100000 the War Departments funds
since July l. 1910. and to an estimate
ed S400 900 ,000,000 the outlay for de-
fense and war purposes since that
date, And all The money carried in
the bill, Army officials said, will be
spent or obligated during the II
months starting July |.
THE decisive budget" was the label
given the measure by 1t. Gen.
Joseph T, McNaney, deputy chief
of staff, during hearings on the bill.
These decisive dollars will be
translated into decisive strategic
and tactical plans"
Triples World War Costs.
Commenting that the bill carried
more than three times the total out
lay OF the War Department during
the entire World War. the committee
said it was determined that the
armed forces shall have every dollar
essential for the early attainment of
an unconditional surrender by all OF
the Axis powers
| 1t shaved only 1887 .986 1927 from
| budget estimates. and left untouched
/ the s23.655 48l 900 estimate for the
Army Air Forces.
The cost is frlghtful." The COM
mlttee observed. "Global warfare
! and modern implementation is the
answer. :. Guns. tanks, airplanes,
ammunition. chemicals and war mu-
nltlonS Of every kind and description
are provided for in accordance with
the departments recommendations
With the bill. the committee made
public letter from Gen. George c.
Marshall, Chief of Staff. asserting
! the funds provided were necessary
in order to carry on aggressive war
fare around the globe" and to has
ten the destruction of the enemy"
Nf hn NE io1s
who testified during the commit
tees hearings hazarded guess as to
how long it would take to deliver the
knockout blow to the Axis, but all
were agreed no stone would be left
unturned to expedite the day OF
reckoning
No Definite Date Fixed.
'We are planning now without
any definite termination date in
mind" said 1t Gen. Brehon B.
Somervell, commander of the Army
Air Forces, "and we are planning on
putting the maximum We can into
the work. within the limits of your
appropriation. In other words, We
are planning to go all out. which is
the best we could do if you want
to be ready for three years or four
years more"
Throughout the 589-page record Of
the hearings there were notations
of confidential testimony stricken
out.
The funds provide s59.037 500 ,673
in new appropriations and sl2,472.-
839 200 of previous funds continued
available. Gen McNarney told the
committee the funds would do this:
Provide a fighting air force of 273
groups ano 100000 ground troops.
$4,000 bombers. 38. 900 fighters. 10000
transport planes and 5000 training
planes. with spare engines and parts
to keep them in action.
Furnish combat divisions with
enough ammunition. tanks, small
arms. cannun. combat vehicles and
other equipment Ito enable us to
come to grips with and destroy the
enemy
Permit the maintenance of more
than 900 airfieldS, 4,500 Army posts.
and 100000 hospital beds, and pro-
vide for internment camps for
325,000 war prisoners.
Now Taking Offensive.
I'VE have passed from defensive
to offensive action Gen. McNarney
said after recalling that when last
years supply bill was passed the
Army had less than 2,5O0,0OO men
only partly trained and equipped
ard Eve were in a precarious posi-
ton, confronted with two aggressive.
ICaa AnNG1z Ilr1N1Ilc, nana A s.