Evening star., 1946-08-29
n.Deyers Maps Cuts
In Special Training 10
Meet Budget Economy
By Nelson M. Shepard

Gen. Jacob L. DeverS was TAX
ing stock today of critical econ
omy requirements which may
compel the Army Ground Forces
to slash its special training pro-
gram this year and already has
resulted in an order for a 20 per
cent reduction in the number of
civilian employees.
The ultimate fate of the fourfold
program OF training maneuvers for
amphibious, mountain, airborne and
Arctic warfare in the face OF dras-
tic cut in new appropriations de-
pends on the final decision Of the
Budget Bureau. In anticipation,
Gen. Devers has set up three alter
nate budget cuts Of 10, 20 and 80
per cent in the training program.
To put so per cent cut into ef-
feet, he said last night, would neces-
state the abandonment Of all ma
neuvers except one of the two
phases Of Arctic training that will
begin this fall.
Civilian Cut Above $1,000.
Figures on the ordered cut in ci-
william personnel of the Army
Ground Forces were lacking early
today but Brig. Gen. E. L. Harrison,
in charge of information, said it
would be greater" than the 1000
reduction authorized last week for
the Army Air Forces. Bulk of the
civilian employees are in the head
quarters and establishments of the
six Army areas into which the
ground forces are divided.
IF we must cut, am for making
one big cut rather than a lot of little
cuts" Gen. Devers said in comment
ing on the effect Of possible reduc-
tions in maneuvers and training.
IF I have to chop OF a cats tail
I am going to cut it right of up at
the cat, and not in 10 little pieces"
he added. you are going to have a
mad cat, anyway. and you might as
well get it over with"
The ground forces commander
said that 'if we take a 10 per cent
cut, We will have to cut short the
current amphibious training of the
Second Infantry Division, now being
held in cooperation with the Army
Air Forces and the Navy on the
Pacific Coast"
Under a previous budget cut, this
amphibious training was limited to
two combat regiments, instead of
the entire division.
A 20 per cent reduction would re-
quire, ih addition, Gen. Devers said,
abandonment Of mountain warfare
training of the Sd Regimental Com
bat Command Of the I'd Division,
at Camp Carson, Colo.
If 30 per cent reduction is
directed by the Budget Bureau, he
said 1t would be necessary to sus-
pend naneuvers of the 83d Airborne
Division, and to cancel as well the
winter test program of one of two
special task forces now preparing
for operations in Alaska and the
Aleutians. One Of these, known as
Operation Williwaw" would be
based on Adak, and the other,
'Frigid' would operate out of Fair
banks.
The Army Ground Forces origi-
nally requested an appropriation of
$16,000,000 for field exercises in
in 1867. The Budget Bureau cut
it to $4,000 900 and Congress finally
appropriated S6,151, 1922 in the cur
rent military supply bill.
= May Drop $4,000 Civilians.
Gen. Harrison did not have figures
in hand to tell how the reduction
in civilian employees would affect
the various Army areas and the
Military Department of Washing
ton which is an entity in itself.
However, some have estimated that
perhaps the civilian cuts will run as
high as $4,000 to $4,000.
President Trumans recent direc-
tive to the Army and Navy requires
them to absorb the cost of IA Der
cent pay boost voted to Federal en-
ployes and also the cost of pay
raises for military personnel. AS
with the AAF, the reductions in
the ground forces will be across
the board" including both high and
low salaried personnel. They will
be effected between October / and
December 81.
A War Department official ex-
planned today that the reduction
program will be continued mo mat
ter whom it hurts"
Argentina will spend 500. .OOO, 900