Evening star., 1948-03-26
Air Power Need
Exceeds Plans,
Senator'S Say
Lodge Leads Fight
To Provide Fund for
70 Combat Groups
By the Assoeioied Press

oClldtc oil pOWcI advocates
insisted today the high COM
mand's own expansion program
falls short of actual needs.
They declared that drafting men
until a universal training program
can be put into full operation is not
enough to give this country the
armed strength required to back up
President Truman's halt-Russia
policy.
Led by Senator Lodge, Republican,
Of Massachusetts,, himself a World
War II veteran, the determined
hackers of a mighter Air Force
showed little alarm over testimony
that Russian submarines have been
seen "off our shores"
Nor did they take specific issue
with plans to draft at least 10000
men between the ages of 10 and 26
for two-year terms with eventual
registration of all men up to IS
years Of age.
Want More Air Power.
But the half dozen or more Sen
ators gave every sign of an all-out
fight to provide the Air Force with
10 combat groups.
The $3,448, 10000 preparedness
program outlined by the Nations
military leaders yesterday contem-
plates no addition to the 55 groups
now planned.
But Senator Lodge, who sat in as
a guest of the Senate Armed Serv-
ices Committee, noted in sharp ques-
tioning of the military chiefs that
the original blueprint for this coun-
try's postwar Air Force contem-
plated 10 groups.
He demanded to know why this
figure had been cut and particularly
why it had not been restored in the
light of tension with Russia.
Senator Lodge drew admissions
from Secretary of Air Symington
and from Gen. Carl Spaatz. Air
Force chief of staff, that they still
regard the larger figure as necessary
Forrestal Cites Cost.
This brought Secretary of Defense
Forrestal back to the witness stand
with the rejoinder that to add the
Is groups would boost the cost of
the expansion program to $18,-
600. .000, 900 for air power alone. And
both the Navy and ground forces
then would have to be increased in
proportion, he insisted.
Senator Maybank, Democrat, of
South Carolina, challenged Mr.. For
restal's estimates, and the Secretary
agreed to return next week with
exact data.
Senator Lodge said he would have
more questions then too.
To reporters query as to
whether Mr.. Forrestals explanation
for the cutback satisfied him, the
Massachusetts lawmaker snapped:
Il didn't even get an answer"
Says 1t Must Be Supplied.
"The answer to that question must
be furnished" Senator Lodge went
on. "If we are going to cut down
from 10 to SIS groups we must know
why. 1t certainly isn't because the
international situation is growing
any easier And it certainly is not
because air power has become any
less Important
Backing up Senator Lodge in his
power demands are such Senators
as Taft, Republican, of Ohio: Know
land, Republican, of California; /;
Saltonstall, Republican of Massa-
chusetts; Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama, and Maybank.
However, Chairman Gurney Of the
Armed Services Committee COM
mented to newsmen after yesterday S
session:
Il think we'll be in pretty good
shape with a 55-group Air Force,
fully manned, for this year
In listing Americas assets. Secre-
tary Forrestal told the committee
that Russia does not yet know how
to produce atomic bombs.
THE United States possesses the
knowledge and the capacity to make
the. atom bomb, and as yet the
Soviets do not" he said.
Foreign Submarines Seen.
Aside from the clash over air
power, the testimony of top military
officials yesterday afternoon was
highlighted by Secretary Of the Navy
Sullivan's dramatic announcement
that foreign submarines recently
"have been sighted of our shores.
He said these did not belong to any
nation west of Russia's iron cur
tain"
Mr.. Sullivan fatty refused to say
! lSee DEFENSE. Page ALL