Evening star., 1950-11-30
Fast Action Pledged
On Increased Funds
For Armed Forces
By Cecil Holland

President Truman said would be
needed Immediately Ito increase
the size and effectiveness of our
armed forces"
Speedy approval of such re-
quests in the face of the serious
turn of events in Korea also was
indicated by Democrats and Re-
publicanS alike.
Chairman Cannon Of the House
Appropriations Committee said
hearings would begin on any sup
Elemental defense appropriation
requests as soon as estimates are
received from the White House.
He added they would be handled
most expeditiously."
Chairman Vinson of the House
Armed Services Committee called
a series of closed hearings, start
ing Monday, to obtain from mill
tary leaders "the true facts" on
the country's defense program and
requirements in the face of "the
present grave crisis in Korea"
Expects Complete Statement.
Mr.. Vinson said he expected the
hearings to develop "a complete
statement on the manpower and
'materiel requirements Of the
armed services as we'll as what
additional appropriations will be
required Immediately. At his news
conference today. President Tru-
man said "a substantial amount"
will be asked for the Army. the
Navy, the Air Force and the
Atomic Energy Commission.
There were reports before the
Communist Chinese surge into
Northern Korea that supple
mental defense appropriations to
be sought in the present session
would not likely exceed $40 to
$12 billion. However, these esti-
mates, according to congressional
sources, are being drastically re-
vised upward.
The House Armed Services
hearings, Mr.. Vinson said, will
start with the Defense Depart
ment's budget and fiscal Offices as
the first witnesses. Secretary of
Defense Marshall and Deputy Sec
retary Lovett will be asked to
testify later on the overall picture
of the country's defense program
and the implication of the de-
velopments in Korea.
Draft Law Expansion Studied.
In advance of the hearings, Mr..
Vinson declined to speculate on
possible broad expansion Of the
armed forces beyond the present
goal OF 3 million men in uniform.
But he said their needs and pos
sible steps to strengthen and ex-
pand the draft law will be fully
explored.
Speaker Rayburn indicated to-
day that Congress would eliminate
entirely or cut very short any
Christmas holiday if that should
be needed to handle defense ap-
preparation legislation or other
matters to strengthen the military
services. Asked if Congress would
take a vacation over the holidays,
Mr.. Rayburn remarked:
Il wouldn't think it would be a
long vacation"
The Senate Appropriations and
Armed Services Committees also
were reported ready to give
prompt consideration to any needs
for the armed services.
The Senate Armed Services
Committee yesterday received a
report on the Korean situation
from MIR. Lovett and 1t. Gen. AL
fred NJ. Gruenther. deputy Army
chief Of staff. and afterward some
committee members said they ex-
pected action soon on tightening
and expanding the draft as a
part of an overall program of
developing a whole new war plan
in the face of the sudden reverses
in Korea.
Chairman Tydings of the Sen
ate group said the defense lead
ers described the situation in Ko-
rea as very. very grave and so
undetermined at the present time
that nobody knows what can be
done or what should be done to
stem the Chinese attack"
Original Outlook Changed.
Senator Tydings said the as
sumption had been that the fight
ing would be confined to Korea
and that with the large-scale in
tervention by Chinese Commu-
nists that assumption no longer
exists"
"The change from the original
assumption has been rapid and I
would assume was unexpected by
those in Korea" the Senator said.
'It calls for formulating plans
dealing with an entirely new sit
uation."
A plea for speedy action to eX-
pand and tighten the draft law
came from still another member,
Senator Gurney. Republican, of
South Dakota, who was defeated
for reelection this year.
There are too many exemp-
tions and deferments now" Sell
ator Gurney said. "We must
build up our military power in
every possible way"
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