Evening star., 1948-04-19
Bridges Backs
70Air Groups,
Action
Unexpected Move
Clears Way for Early
Vote in Senate
By J. A. OLsorx

Chairman Bridges of the Sen
ate Appropriations Committee
came out today in favor of swift
Senate approval of Air Force ex-
pansion to 10 groups, for which
the House already has voted a
starting appropriation.
His statement came Unexpectedly,
and virtually assures early Senate
action in view Of his position.
There had been earlier reports
that Senator Bridges wanted to pro-
ceed carefully In considering air
strength in It's relation to q
balanced overall defense program
in line with the position taken by
President Truman and Secretary Of
Defense Forrestal.
The New Hampshire Republican
also made 1t clear he is ready to
give prompt consideration to the
additional needs of the Army and
Navy, which the Administration
contends should go along with the
larger air force.
Says Need Is Urgent.
The statement Of the Senate
Appropriations chairman follows:
Il have always been an advocate
of air power as the key to any ma
tional defense program. Through
out my service in the Senate I
have urged the development and
maintenance of striking force ad-
equate to meet any contingency.
Since World War II ended and Com
munist Russia's expansion was ac-
celerated I have emphasized that
the need for such an air force is
completely urgent.
"The international situation Is
critical In the face of this ever
increasing Communist threat. the
Congress has no choice but to act
with dispatch on the 70-group air
force plan as the spearhead of an
adequate and balanced overall pro-
gram to secure Americas position in
4 threatened world. There should
be prompt congressional authorize
ton of a 70-group air force.
Information which will enable
the Congress to promptly authorize
whatever steps are necessary to an
adequate and balanced overall de-
tense program should be irhmedi-
ately presented by the executive
branch. In this period when 1t is
impossible to predict daily develop
ments the Government and the
people must treat time as of the
essence.
Committee Will Act Swiftly.
II am hopeful that needed infor-
nation will come to the Senate
Armed Services Committee immedi-
ately. But in any event, the Senate
Appropriations Committee is pre-
pared to act swiftly regarding air
force expansion and any other ma
tional security matters placed before
U.s."
Meanwhile the Senate Armed
Services Committee recessed its
study of military manpower needs
until Wednesday when it found Sec
retary of Defense Forrestal would
not be ready before then to submit
the overall figures showing what
each branch Of the service believes it
should have.
Chairman Gurney revealed that
the separate armed forces have not
yet agreed among themselves how
much should be allocated to each
Of them out of the overall increase
of $4,000, 100000 recommended by
the administration two weeks ago
to the original 1000 ,0D0, 900 de-
fense budget for the coming year.
The controversy over the size of
the Air Force was brought to a
head when the House last week
decided to take $3,198, ,O00. 900 of the
administrations total defense bud
get and make it Immediately avail
able for Air Force and naval air
expansion alone.
The Senate Appropriations Com
mittee also met in closed session,
principally to work out procedure
&C.. NrIr1NTCr non.