Evening star., 1950-02-26
Chiefs
U. 5. Air Might
Non-Combut Cutbock
Will Provide Funds,
Truman Is Notified
By John A. Giles

yesterday top military approval of
an expansion of the Air Force
with money from cutbacks in
combat activities. They also
revealed that the number of stra-
tegic B-29 bombers had been more
than doubled.
Secretary of Defense johnson
and the Joint Chiefs of Staff
were reported to have approved a
plan to increase gradually the
number of Air Force tactical.
ground-support planes and pos
sibly the number of groups.
The plan calls for an expansion
in the next fiscal year without
any increase in the $13 billion de-
fense budget and for further
gradual increases in future years.
Submitted to Truman.
The plan has been submitted
to President Truman. Although
Mr.. Truman's budget for the
fiscal year beginning next July
/, limits the Air Force to 48 groups
and $500 planes of all types and
he impounded $500 million in Air
Force expansion funds last year,
defense officials now have high
hopes that he will approve the
proposed increase in air combat
strength.
The number of bombers in each
Of the Strategic Air Commands
nine B-29 Superfortress groups has
been increased from 80 to IS,
these officials said.
Although the atom bomb-carry-
ing B-29 does not have the per-
formance of the B-36 or the B-50,
it will continue to be the back
bone of the Air Force for several
years until the later types are
produced in sufficient quantities.
The officials, by stating that no
cutback was contemplated in the
purchases of the controversial
B-36 bamber program, also indi-
Gated that the Weapons System
Evaluation Group had generally
approved the giant plane after
an exhaustive study. The groups
preliminary secret report was out
lined recently to Mr.. Truman and
ais cabinet.
Number Delivered Is Secret.
The current B-36 procurement
program was increased from 81 to
n, making q total Of 216 ordered.
The number delivered is secret.
These officials categorically de-
MED some published charges that
the johnson economy cutbacks
had seriously weakened the Ma
tion's defenses, Mr.. johnson him.
self is expected to answer those
charges, in a New York speech
March 3.
They said that the savings had
been affected by slicing off over
head "fat" without cutting away
any of the combat effectiveness
of either the Army. Navy or Air
Force. Because the "fat" had
existed before the economy drive,
they maintained that any sub
stantial increase in spending then
would merely have continued to
increase the size of non-essentials.
Amvets Rap johnson.
Meanwhile, National Comman-
der Harold Russell of the Amvets
last night criticized Secretary
johnson for "vainglorious state
ments" about the military posi-
ton Of the United States.
Mr.. Russell called for joint
congressional study of defense ION
a practical rather than a political
basis" He declared this coun-
try's waning ability" to defend
1UoClA al tllC AdSC VA 4tdooAeS . "a AA4o-
ment gains lis an open invitation
to another Pearl Harbor."
Mr.. Russell spoke in a Nation
wide broadcast from Station
WTOP. Asserting that the execu-
tive branch of the Government
has not been frank enough with
the people," he said congress
sional study should answer these
questions:
"Why we should not have TO-
group Air Force with priority on
strategic aircraft? Why we should
not have more than a three-area
system of radar defenses? Why
our feet carriers should not be
doubled from 6 to IL and why
our anti-submarine development
should not be given funds and
top priority?
"And why our tiny Army, if it
(Soo nEEENSE paoe A.7A