The Key West citizen., 1952-02-04
Defense Secretary lovett
Warns Congress Not 10
Cut '53 Military Budget
Says That Eren
- Billion
.DOyiar Budget
l, Risky

NASiilNNluN Ar--NNfeh*e rFt
retary Loveit ssid tofay sne cu'
IN the 50 billion dollar milissr'
badge, Recommended nv prcsiden'
Truman Tor fiscal 1888 would "in
crease. bcyond ne realms @. pru
denec. the calculated risss slread..
taken"
i.oveti told the senate apnr nria.
iions subcommittee and the ioin'
Economic Committee that ever
this figure for ihe year sisr'snf
July meant . euiback In origsna
defense goals.
Strongly recommending crnrres
sional approval II the u billion
he believes IL q rock .bo'io.n Z ssre
I.ovett said.
with a lesser amount af naone'
we would be limiting oar effort
10 q program level that wo,lld IN
crease. beyond the realms 81 pru
denec. the calculated risks a'scsd'
taken.
IA would force us TO less Elf
eieni operssionx and wouid mo- pcr
mii the coniinued aceessrsied rro
duction during the next two ycar
u the MAJOR military items 80
Thefe has been Widespread o.
mand that the military BUDGET hs
cut 10 east the drain on the 30
nestle economy. Some have SAN
II waste and mismsnagemens sion
were corrected. savings would rsr
into billions. Others have urged
81 in foreign military aid.
Loveit said the Defense Depart
mens realized that the esseniia
foundation of our entire miiitar.
structure h o sound. vital and pro
gressive economy" and that iu
heavy a drain must ngs he places
upon n
He said the Defense Dcpsrsmer'
has taken . realistic attitude. NJ
made nee econemies. and instess
of attempting 10 reach cerisif
goals in 1850 er 1854 II has delsyes
them and funds asked now VII
permit = program merely ''expand
Ing toward these goals. +"
TIE listed these goals as n fni
sireneth divisions Cor the Army
80 combat vessels and ~ earr'r'
air groups for the Navy: three fuF
divisions aud three AR wings TO
the Marines: ard fss wirss soF -
AIR Force. Al three services wuallsi
have the spprvpriste sapIsft 7
type units"
The decision 20 build towsss
these goals rather than siiempf y
reach them In fiscal year issS 81
1864 was made after careful con
ssderafion 81 the economic. ga
terisi. fiscal and military implies
tons Involved" ne said
Ioveit said . program u partial
mobilization While maintaining .
strung civilian economy has never
before been sstempsed in this cossn
try"
I'VE have always operated mlli
iary production On the feast ~
/ famine basis of large pFadnetion
during actual war and hstle er nn
military PRODUCTION II Mhef
times" he said.
He said tremendous gains have
been made On the past - msnihs
the Army from 500 00 men. u
divisions and ~ rezimenssl combat
trans In Juns. 1850 % .s7e 90
men. ~ divisions. and ~ regiment
al units. the Navy from sse so
men wish ~ combstsni vessels %
3so.@D men and eco eombstsni ses'
sells: MsFines from Ts0o men 10
10 eoo. and shs AR Forse from
Ell. 90 nswso1 s. wings 90 nssFiy
mso. 90 men and - ~tngs.
Iosest said ths armed services
originally wanted n billson deiisFs.
that tina wss whiisled dosn by
his sffice 90 IS blilian. ard lhs
President later cut n 10 So billion
before submitting ., 10 csngrsss
the secretary said there q 10.
tie evidence u any relsxsiion a
fhe kfemIln fo.Nnrd wofId fIpfn.
.GonfrIs On page Sevsnf