Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-09
Calls
70Air Groups
Vital by 1852
Report Warns Against
Delay in Defense, Says
Cost Is Justified
By John A. Giles


last night of "the vital necessity
of attaining" 7O-group air arm
by 1852 to defend the Nation
from the horrors of war which
it has never known"
This country has none too much
time to provide itself with the
means of its own protection, Mr..
Symlngton said in report to De-
tense Secretary Forrestal.
He admitted that the money re-
quired for a 7O-group. four-vear
program is great but declared that
the Nation could not afford the
waste of its time and resources
that are inherent in vacillation and
stop and-start planning"
Legislative and executive author
tiles must constantly weigh the state
OF world conditions, the military
needs of the country, and the eff
cheney and economy with which the
Air Force is carrying out the pro-
gram" he said. But I solemlv
urge that there be most carefully
weighed the Importance of stability
and resoluteness.
Sees Loss of Atom Monopoly.
He added that by the end of 1852
I'VE can no longer count on
monopoly of atomic weapons" and
declared that, there was a pressing
need" for an adequate aircraft
warning system.
The Air Force. he said. completed
a plan for such a "radar fence"
around the United States in No
vember, 1947,, and circulated it
among defense officials.
But attempts to bring the mat
ter before the 80th Congress were
unsuccessful, he added.
At present the system comprises
an isolated station here and there,
which, officials admit, could be by
passed by large air fleets because Of
their extremely short range.
The secretary's proposal for
radar screen around the United
States was assured of quick atten-
ton at the Capitol Representa-
tive Vinson, Democrat, of Georgia,
who will be chairman of the House
Armed Services Committee, has in
troduced a bill to authorize it.
Vinson to Speed Bill.
"The need for this sort of pro-
lection is very urgent" MIR. Vinson
said yesterday land it should be
established at once
Mr.. VinSon said his bill will be
taken up as soon as the committee
is selected, possibly by the end Of
next week. He estimated the ra-
dar network would cost at least
$50 100000.
Last year Mr. Forrestal. backed
by President Truman, would not
agree to the full 70-group program,
saying that it would throw the
whole military framework out Of
balance. But Mr.. Symington and
Air Force officers continued to adj
vocate it before Congressional COM
mittees.
Air Force spokesman explained
last night that Mr.. Symington's re-
port was for the period July /. 1947,
to June 30, 194S. and that it was in
the hands of the printers before
Mr.. Truman issued his recent order
that the military support his budget
of some $4,000 100000 for the
armed forces. 1t generally is assumed
that the budgetary ceiling will slow
down the planned 70-group program
over the four-year period.
Joint Agreement Cited.
Mr.. Symington also referred to an
Army Mayfair Force agreement on
a joint short-range emergency plan
the first in the peacetime history
of the United States"
The plan, which makes all three
services capable of functing imme-
diately anywhere in the world. is
revised frequently by the Joint
Chiefs of Staff.
Mr. Symington's document also
contained lengthy report from
Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Air Force
chief of staff, in which he stated
that the Air Force had concluded
that it was impossible to develop
extreme long-range bombers.
Gen. Vandenberg told of the crea-
ton of special committee to study
the subject
Flight Refueling Held Vital.
THE final report of the commit
tee concluded that an aircraft OF
an acceptable size could not be built
to perform its mission at the de-
sired range unless air-to-air in-flight
refueling were employed" he said.
"* The Air Force is, therefore,
aggressively developing the air-to-
air refueling potentialities and has
an extensive modification program
under way that will provide tankers
and receivers for tactical units in
the near future"
Gen. Vandenberg also reported
that planning and preparation for
atomic warfare took precedence over
all other subjects. He also indicated
there had been progress in the de-
velopment of long-rang guided mis-
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