Evening star., 1946-02-27
Cutback Of I Billion
In Unspent Wartime
Funds Asked in Bill
BY the Assoeioted Pres,

The House Appropriations
Committee today recommended
the recapture of s7,112,23o ,o5s in
unspent wartime funds and
spending authority.
1t sent to the House floor for
consideration later this week a bill
adding that amount to approxi-
mately $4,000, 900 900 which Con-
gress previously ordered cancelled.
AS in previous measures, the
Army and Navy took the biggest
cuts. Both of the services told
the committee their mighty air ar
madas which put Japan and Ger
many out of the war have dwindled
to mere shadow of their former
strength.
S3,166, ,992, ,924 Navy Cut.
From the Navy's available funds
and spending authority, the COM
mittee recommended a cut of
So, ,166 ,992, 1924, leaving s21,470814,-
lot available during the current
fiscal year ending June 80. The
largest cutback, $961, ,726, 900, was in
the fund for construction and re-
placement Of naval vessels.
The Army's rescission was $1,615,-
$685. 1863, which would leave s32,242,-
350,278 available. A billion of the
reduction was in the Air Forces
fund.
The balance of the total reduc-
ton was shared mainly by the
Maritime Commission, the War
Shipping Administration and the
lease-lend program now being liqui-
dated.
For agencies which escaped re-
ductionS, as well as those whose
funds are pared by the bill, the
committee promised future consid-
GRAFTON, disclosing that it probably
will have another cancellation
measure.
At Threshold of New Era.
Commenting on its action in
trimming the drawing accounts Of
the armed forces, the committee
said:
Science has revolutionized the
ways and means of offensive-de-
fensive warfare. We stand at the
crossroads of a new era"
And it cited this testimony,
given during consideration of the
bill, by 1t. Gen. Ira C. Eaker, deputy
Army Air Forces commander:
THE AAF has turned its thought
toward new designs and new meth
ods, including jet-propelled and
rocket-assisted aircraft. We
hope to maintain and extend our
stature as the most progressive air
power in the world. = = 3" This policy
can insure the peace and guarantee
the safety of the United States as
nothing else can"
Speaking Of what the committee
called the "disintegration of the
air force" Gen. Eaker said it has
proceeded to "the point where we
do not have a single squadron
capable of carrying out effectively
a major military mission"
Big Personnel Reduction.
Air forces personnel, the general
said, has been cut more than so
per cent below its We day strength
and by July will be down to 10
combat groups composed of 400 900
military personnel, more than half
assigned to overseas bases.
The actual number of airplanes,
he added, will be reduced to less
than $4,000 sometime this sum-
mer," compared with $1,000 when
the war ended in Europe.
The Navy's aviation program was
outlined by Vice Admiral A. w. Rad
ford, who told the committee post
war plans contemplate 5000 operat-
ing and 1000 supporting aircraft.
Last August, Admiral Radford said.
the Navy had 10000 planes and by
next July 1t will be down to $1,000,
in addition to several thousand in
storage.
The committee left untouched
100000 900 for construction of
Army facilities in the Marianas,
Okinawa and the Philippines.