Evening star., 1950-01-09

here it goes. -AP Photo.
133 Billion Sought
For Nation S Defense;
Air Power Stressed
BY John A. Giles
President Truman recon-
mended to Congress today q 1850
81 defense budget providing "for
balanced land, naval and air
forces" with fewer men, ships and
planes than was maintained dur
ing this fiscal year.
However. the proposed budget
definitely emphasized air power.
It recommended an increase in
funds for the Air Force over this
years appropriations while both
the Army and Navy were cut back.
But even with more money, the
Air Force will operate AIT fewer
planes and both 1t and the
Navy's air arm will be able to buy
fewer aircraft with greater
amounts of money than this year
because of "the increasing COM
plexity and cost of individual air
Iplanes," Mr.. Truman said.
/ The budget showed. however,
that both the Air Force and Navy
would be flying their aircraft more
hours during the next fiscal year
than at present.
|, Strength At Same. Levels.
Manpower of the Air Force would
be maintained at about its present
level. All three services have been
adjusting their strengths in antici-
patton of the budget and, in terms
of overall manpower, the numbers
will be little changed from what
they were on November 30-the
latest statistics available. On that
date there were 1,577 900 men and
women in uniform and Mr.. Tru-
mans budget would allow for
1,506.600 during the next fiscal
year.
Although the overall budget re-
quest-s13.545. 100000 or 3l.9 per
cent of the total National budget
was smaller than either Mr.. Tru-
man asked last year or the total
amount of money Congress pro-
vided. the actual expenditures Of
cash would be larger. The authori-
ty of the Army. Navy and Air Force
to let contracts for future deliv-
cries was curtailed.
Mr.. Truman also recommended:
/. Extension of the present Sc
lective Service law which expires
next June "a. The armed forces
have not used the draft machinery
since January, 1949.
2. Enactment Of q universal
military training law. Mr.. Tru-
man first recommended its pas
sage In October, 1945, but Con-
gress has refused to go along with
him.
8. No new Navy ship construc-
ton next year. However, the
President asked for some funds for
completion of ships already on
the ways.
4. The Army would get $63, ,14o,-
210. more than double this years
appropriation, for Arctic equip
ment and for new tanks, the first
received In any numbers since the
war.
Here is how Mr.. Truman's mill
tary budget would work out for
the three services:
Army-Recommended outlay,
$4,033.384, 900 or $4O1, ,760, ,298 less
than provided this year. Recon-
mended 100000 men, comprising
10 divisions and 48 antiaircraft
battalions and other combat serv-
ice units. The present strength
Of the Army is around $50 900.
Complementing the active Army
will be the National Guard with
$50. 900 and the Organized Reserve
with 225, 900 in regular training.
Navy-Recommended outlay,
$4,008. 739 900 or $319, GAS, 200 less
than this year. Recommended
386,209 men in the Navy and
1926 In the Marine Corps. Pres
ent strength Of the Navy is 49,
600 while the Marines have 81, 900.
The Navy would operate 238
combat ships. six Of them large
carriers. During this year the sea
arm has operated 288 combat yes
sells, eight OF them large carriers.
A total Of 5000 aircraft would be
operated by the active Navy and
Marine forces and $500 by the
reserve forces, The active forces
now operate 7.450 planes. Sup
plementtng the Navy and Marine
Corps will be 204 $50 members Of
the Navy Reserve and 50.772 Of
the Marine Corps Reserve in reg
ular training. This year the Navy
has trained approximately 230, 900
men in regular drill status and the
Marine Corps about $4,000.
Air Force-Recommended out
lay. $4,624,577 900. or $5o5, ,1e1 900
more than this year. Recon-
mended 10000 men-approxi-
mately the same strength the air
arm reported as Of November SO
jim 48 groups and 13 separate
squadrons. The Air Force, which
! has operated an average Of o,217
4