Evening star., 1952-08-25
Pick Says Blast
On Africa Bases
Is '0vercritica|'
Senators Report
Charges Top-LeveI
Waste on Project
By GEORGE Beveridoe

AV' NASAA' ACW4o "A. I'm, CIllC1 VI
the Army Corps of Engineers, to-
day characterized as "overcritical"
a blistering Senate report charging
top-level waste and confusion in
the rush construction of American
air bases in North Africa.
The Senate Preparedness Sub
committee report asked Army Sec
retary Pace to take appropriate
action" against Gen. Pick.
Among other things, the sub
committee, headed by Senator
Lyndon Johnson, Democrat, of
Texas charged that Gen. Pick had
not submitted full, frank and
comprehensive" testimony about
handling of the multi-million dol
lar building project.
Denies Responsibility
Gen. Pick put out a statement
today saying he was not RESPONSE
BILE for determination of Air Force
requirements in North Africa. He
said it was mot my responsibility
to direct the construction on q
crash Cor rush) program basis"
The building job in French
Morocco already has cost taxpay-
ers 1920 million. The subcommit-
tee indicated it is expected even
tually to cost more than double
that amount.
There were indications that the
Pentagon might release today a
report on the project which Gen.
Pick submitted to Secretary Pace.
The Secretary is not expected in
Washington until tomorrow. but
| it was understood efforts were un-
der way to get his authority for
releasing the report Immediately.
Plan Offered in Report.
In his statement, Gen. Pick
said his report to Mr.. Pace sug-
gested a plan for correcting the
deficiencies" During his recent
visit to Africa, he said, he found
the work progressing at a highly
satisfactory rate"
Gen. Pick said he had not seen
the scathing Senate report. which
charged large scale "loafing,
drunkenness and failure to attend
to duty" on the job, as well as
ineffective checks on fraud, kick
backs and theft.
But, Gen. Pick added, from
the newspaper accounts, 1t would
appear that the subcommittee has
submitted generalized report
which appears to be over
critical"
Not Given Copies.
His full statement follows:
IT have read the newspaper &C
counts of the report of the Sen
ate Preparedness Subcommittee in
connection with the air base con-
stfuction program in French
Morocco. Copies of the report
we're not supplied by Office by the
subcommittee. This. in my opin-
ion, has been one of the most
difficult construction projects with
which I have been confronted as
chief of engineers. Of course
as chief of engineers I had nc
responsibility in the determine
tion of the Air Force requirements
in North Africa. It was not my
responsibility to direct the con-
struction on a crash program
basis. It is not unusual for con-
tractors to experience some def
ciencies in accomplishing large
military construction projects un-
der extreme limits of time. This
is what happened in Morocco.
From the newspaper accounts
it would appear that the subcom-
mittee has submitted a general
lied report which, considered in
the light of these circumstances
appears to be overcritical. Eight
days ago I returned from an in.
Spection of the Moroccan project
I have rendered report of this
inspection to the Secretary of the
Army, which the committee ap.
(see AIR BASES, Page A-2)