The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-02

Jap and German planes TOT
 It is being kept a top-drawer secret, but Army planners already have mapped out the relative size of the air force after the war. And it is to go back to about the same strength as the Air Corps in 1936-about 18,00O men.
 Simultaneously, ground force Army men are promoting the idea of huge land army, and are pushing the idea of peace-time conscription. Under Secretary of War Patterson is one of those who favor putting through a Con- scription Bill now, apparently with the idea that the bill would not pass after the war.
 Air experts meanwhile point out privately that If we are to prevent war under the United Nations se- curity plan, we will need not big land army, but a fast, powerful air force which can get to any trouble-spot in a hurry. Also, if this nation should be attacked, the first line of defense, they say, is the air, then the Navy-both Of which would give time to mobilize land army.
 Finally the air experts point out that future development of the rocket bomb will be such that land armies may not be im- p0rtant in the initial stages of a war. It will be the nation which has rockets and planes most efficiently mobilized at the start of war which prob- ably can win. They say the time will not be far off when rocket bombs will be able to cross the ocean, and that what the nation needs is not conscrip- tion, but experimental labora- tories both for air and rockets.
 NOTE: In the Army budget Of 1940, one year before Pearl Har- bor, General Stanley Embick, Deputy Chief of Staff and very competent coast artilleryman, dic- tated an appropriation for only six long-range Army bombers- until other officers and world events forced revision upwards. This indicates the type of think ing of grounds officers. Airmen are now afraid of 8 repetition of this after the war.
 PAT HURLEY'S BLUES
 When handsome ex-Secretary of War Ambassador Maj. Gen. Patrick J. Hurley went to China, the State Department made him discard the uniform and two sil- yer stars of major general and dress as all other American arln- basasdors-in plain civilian clothes.
 This didn't please Hurley at all. But he conformed. However, when he got back to Washington and went in to see the President the other day, friends say that Pat had in mind getting special per- mission from the President to wear his Army uniform while am- bassador in China.
 Perhaps the State Department tipped off the White House about Hurley,s sartorial ambition, or perhaps 1t was just accident. Any way, the President beat him to the gun.
 "WelI, Pat" FDR said to Hur- ley who was wearing . blue serge suit, you certainly look fine in blues."
 Hurley murmured something about the fact he thought his
 Army uniform was more ap-
 propriate. But the President replied:
 "Oh no, Pat, you look fine i'm blues"
 That ended that. Hurley is go- ing back to China wearing civ- ilian clothes.
 FRANKFURTER PICKS 'EM
 It looks as if Justice Felix Frankfurter is going to pick the next Solicitor General-the man who presents the Governments cases before the Supreme Court.
 There has bene . long hack.
 stage controversy over this i'm.
 p0rtaut pest. Democratic Chair
 man Bob Hannegan wanted
 Democratic Vice Chairman Os- Jesus. ''but yet have believed"
 A doubter is honest but he is sel ans.. hns4r.U An aa0as. haIfnua4. a