Evening star., 1952-07-07
|Donohue Raps
Civil Defense
Cut for District
Slash to 100000
Makes City Sitting
Duck He Declares

Congressional action slashing
the 1858 District budget request
for civil defense from $725 900 to
100000 will leave Washington q
virtual sitting duck" Commis-
sioner F. Joseph Donohue de.
clared yesterday.
In talk over Radio Station
WRC. Mr.. Donohue termed the
action "bewildering" in the face
of existing world tension.
He said it would be impossible
to carry out months of civil de-
fense planning.
you are American citizens" he
told his audience. "You have the
right to demand the protection
your city and its civil defense or
|ganization Is unable to provide
for you because we are being
denied the use of our own money
for that vital purpose"
Observers Alerted.
Mr.. Donohue cited a closed door
meeting at the Pentagon of top
Air Force officers and civil defense
directors Of q States June 16.
after which an order was issued
placing ground observer posts on
24-hour duty effective July IA.
If there is need for such dras-.
tic action and constant vigilance"
he said, lit must derive from q
substantial cause-a definite and.
tangible threat"
Recent intelligence reports, he
went on. indicate Russia now has
10000 aircraft in $50 wings. The
United States, he noted. will have
only 10000 planes in 143 wings,
according to present plans. in
1855.
Refers to Twining Warning.
Mr.. Donohue pointed out that
Gen. Nathan F. Twining, acting
head Of the Air Force, recently
told a congressional committee
that Russia soon may have enough
atomic bombs to launch a surprise
attack with substantial reserve
for succeeding tries.
Gen. Twining also repeated q
disclosure that Russia has devel-
oped a powerful, long-range
bomber capable Of delivering
atomic bombs to any of this coun-
try's target areas. the commits
sioner added. ="
Mr.. Donohue quoted some top
military and congressional leaders
as saying that civil defense not
only is necessary but that it
should be on co-equal basis with
the armed forces.
"I regret that those upon whom
we must depend for our civil de-
tense appropriations seem to place
so little value upon the opinions
of those men and the startling
: facts which have been revealed" !"
he said.
Cites European Action.
Citing positive action taken by
European countries, he said that
Britain. though financially hard
'lpressed. has put civil defense on
:. a par with her armed forces. With
0 a permanent civil defense corps
e numbering 10000, she now is re-
I cruiting and training an ad-
S ditional 100000. volunteers, he
added.
t Mr.. Donohue also outlined prog
ress in Norway. Sweden and Den
n mark. And Russia's civil defense
e he added, was never relinquishec
e since its inception during World
t War II.
To-day, there are at least q
t million civilians trained In civil
!. Defense" he related. "A few
: months ago it was reported that
= the Soviets took steps to bring
their civil defense up to date by
merging all voluntary activities
= under central control.
= Those nations-our allies and
t our potential enemy, have learned
} and are applying the lesson of the
= last war. The lesson is this: who
e ever loses a modern war will lose
= it first and foremost on the home
'front.'"