Evening star., 1950-03-05
U.S.. Defense Chiefs,
Senators 10 Confer
In Secret Tomorrow
By John A. Giles

fer with the Nations defense
leaders at 1890 am. tomorrow
but the purpose Of the Pentagon
meeting could not be learned last
night.
There was one report that the
stirred by warnings
that the United States is exposed
to a hydrogen-age pearl Harbor."
were launching a secret investiga-
ton to find out for themselves
where national defense actually
stood.
However, neither Chairman
Tydings of the Senate Armed
Services Committee, who arranged
for the meeting, nor Defense Sec
retary johnson could be reached
for comment.
Contradictions Noted.
Members of the Senate Armed
Services and Appropriations COM
Senators in all-only
two weeks ago got a two-hour
briefing at the Pentagon on the
readiness and capabilities of the
armed forces.
At that time the Senators were
supposed to have gone into the
conflict between pronouncements
by President Truman and Mr.
Johnson that our defenseS are in
excellent shape and privately ex-
presses opinions by some military
leaders that it was a mistake
not to increase the strength more
rapidly in the light of world con-
ditions.
After that session the lawmak-
ers would not make any state
ments although previously Sena-
tor Gurney, Republican of South
Dakota, had said that he had
wanted to question Mr.. johnson
and Air Secretary Symington on
their reported differences of opin-
ion on the state of the defenses.
sSenator Tydings also Is inter
ested in the passage of standby
legislation to affect immediate in
dustrial mobilization in an emer-
gency and this is likely to be dis
cussed at tomorrow'S meeting.
Started Under Forrestal.
Studies of this type of legisla-
tion were first instituted in Oc-
tober, 1947, by the National Sc
curity Resources Board at the in
sistance of then Secretary of De-
fense James Forrestal However,
the matter was allowed to lag un-
til Mr.. johnson, who spearheaded
such programs before World War
II while assistant secretary of war,
renewed the effort last fall.
The armed services committee
already has heard NSRB officials
on such legislation and Defense
Department leaders are ready to
testify on it.
Mr.. Truman told a news confer
ence this week that the United
States has never been so strong at
a time when it was not at war and
this assertion was repeated Fri
day night in New York by Mr..
Johnson.
However, some Senators main
tain that the Nations military
strength is not sufficient to meas
ure up to the military problem OF
today. They ask, What would
happen if Russia decided that the
United States will not disintegrate
from within, in line with Commu-
mist doctrine, and therefore that
action was required?"
Air Force Warns of Attack.
The Air Force recently informed
the House Appropriations Com
mittee that Russia soon" would
be equipped to launch a strong
atomic attack with bombers able
to reach any part of the United
States. Mr.. Symington at the same
time warned that the air arms S
own offensive and defensive
strength would "deteriorate" if
the present budget ceilings are
maintained. He said that the A.
group Air Force could not be
maintained in modern condition
without an increase.
The air leaders have said they
accepted the budget only because
they had been informed the ma
tional economy would not stand
more. The military leaders have
said repeatedly that from a pure
ly military" standpoint the cur
rent and prospective strength was
not adequate.
In addition to Mr.. johnson and
Mr.. Symington others who will
meet with the Senators include
Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen
T. Early; Army Secretary Gray:
Gen. Bradley, Joint Chiefs chair
man; Gen. Collins and Gen. VAN
denberg, Army and Air chiefs of
staff, and Admiral Sherman, Chief
of Naval Operations.
Alumni to Hold Dinner
The Wa shinotan cha ntpr of the