Evening star., 1950-07-25
Military
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industrial potential is the envy
of the world.
"Our sea power is easily greater
than that of Russia and her satel-
lites. Our strategic air power is
unmatched anywhere in the world.
We are still far ahead in the
atomic arms effort and will prob
ably stay ahead for some years in
the future"
He gave this advice to colleagues
who in recent weeks have criti-
cized past preparedness programs:
"Our great need right now is to
get the OK out of the ditch-not
spend a lot of time and effort try
ing to find out who pushed him
into the ditch. Let's not spend
our time looking backwards while
Americans are being killed in Ko-
rea and our defenses urgently need
strengthening. L. .. This is no time
to take detour to hunt for scape-
goats"
/. Chairman Mahon of a House
appropriation subcommittee on
military appropriations called
for speedy hearings starting today
on President Truman's request
for more than sos billion extra
for the armed services. The de-
tails of the specific cash requests
were submitted by the White
House yesterday and House lead
ers said a vote on the requests
may be reached next week.
2. Top congressional leaders
went to the Peptagon for a
morning briefing session with
Secretary Of Defense johnson and
the Joint Chiefs Of Staff on the
state of the Nations fighting
forces and their future military
needs.
3. Members of the House Armed
Services Committee reported after
a closed meeting with Admiral
Forrest P. sherman, Chief of
Naval Oper4tions, that the Navy
plans SO per cent increase in
the fighting strength of the
Marines and major additions to
the feet with important units
being taken from inactive status
and restored to fleet operations.
May Use Marshall Plan Funds.
4. Chairman Connally of the
Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee said administration plan
nerS are considering using Mar
shall Plan money for European
military projects instead of eco
nomic development.
President Truman's request for
additional billions for fighting
Communism had been forecast in
his urgent message on the Korean
crisis last week. The details he
submitted late yesterday asked
$40, ,486, ,976, 900 in new money for
the armed services, $40 million to
operate the draft and $40 million
for his emergency fund.
Navy plans for increasing its
fighting strength were revealed by
members of the House Armed
Services Committee as calling for:
l. An increase in Marine Corps
aviation from II to 18 squadrons
for close ground support of troops.
2. A boost Of so per cent in
Marine combat forces. which was
$4,000 in the latest report. Some
House members understood this
increase might go as high as $1,000
men.
3. The addition of two, or pos
sibly three, 27,000-ton Essex class
aircraft carriers. including the
commissioning of a new carrier
now under construction.
4. Material increases in active
cruiser and destroyer strength.
Other Services to Be Heard.
A large part of the Navy's prob
lens, it was indicated, stem from
the time lag involved in taking
it's reserve vessels out of moth
balls. In the case of carriers, 1t
was said, this adds up to 80 days
or more.
The House committee is to hear
from the other services later this
week. Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg,
Air Force chief of staff, and Gen.
Clifton B. Gates, Marine Corps
commandant, have been called to
testify tomorrow.
The group visiting the Pentagon
was composed of SIS members of
both houses, including members
of the Armed Services and Ap-
preparations Committees.
Chairman Tydings of the Sen
ate armed Services Committee de-
clared after the briefing:
IT came away very much i'm
pressed with the general improve
ment in the situation but which
is yet far from good"
In adance of a complete ap-
praisal, informed House sources
said they understood contemplat-
ed percentage increases in Army
and Air Force strength were con-
siderably smaller than that
planned for the Marine Corps.
So far there have been no
Marines in action in Korea-dyers
or ground forces-but elements of
the 1st Marine Division are now
len route from San Diego.