Evening star., 1952-06-03
Eisenhower Defends Record
On BuiIdup Of u. S. Air Power
In Reply to Toft's Criticism
Tolks With Reporters
For Lost Time in
Role as Military Man
By John A. Giles

Oy SVHH ~ 0uCS
Gen. Eisenhower today defended
his record on the buildup of Amer
ica's air power against criticism
by Senator Taft of Ohio. his chief
opponent for the Republican presi-
Dental nomination.
The General was asked at a
Pentagon news conference about
last Sundays statement by SEN
ator Taft that there had been a
steady deterioration of this coun-
try's air power which began while
Gen. Eisenhower was Army chief
of staff.
Comments for the Record.
Prefacing his remarks with the
statement that he was ready to
comment ION the record" Gen.
Eisenhower said:
II came out of the war con-
vinced that Billy Mitchell was
right in his concept of air power.
II started q campaign to dis
associate the air arm from its
legally subordinate position to
make it separate department.
II agreed with Gen. Spaatz
(first chief Of staff of the inde-
pendent Air Force) that the air
power should be separated from
the rest Of the military. I stood
with him. I suggest you ask him
how I stood on air power.
Il made many public state
ments in which I urged more air
power. I urge that the United
States develop highly mobile units,
which means air power.
I'm No. ! in trying to relieve
our young men of the necessity
Of carrying weapons-and that
means air power. I believe in air
power"
Foot Soldier Still Essential.
While air power will be the
dominant factor in any future
war. the general said, he added
he wished any one who believed
the foot soldier could be elm
mated would quote me how to
do it,"
Gen. Eisenhower added that he
had stood with Gen. Spaatz, now
retired. for 10 air groups. But
he added: "We were whitfield
down."
Gen. Eisenhower was meeting
with newsmen for the last time in
the uniform Of a f1ve-star general.
His retirement-at his own re-
quest, and without pay-became
effective short time later, free
Ing him for as active a role as he
cares to take in the contest for
the presidential nomination.
Politics Take Over.
Politics took over as soon as
the press conference and retire
ment ceremony were out of the
way.
The general lunched with lead
ers OF the movement to win the
presidential nomination-Senators
Lodge of Massachusetts and Duff
Of Pennsylvania, and Paul Hoff-
man, on leave from the Ford
Foundation.
Eisenhower-for- President head
quarters announced the general
would be wearing civilian clothes
when he left his hotel at Sis
pm. today for National Airport.
where he was to emplane for his
first out-of-uniform speech Of the
campaign at Abilene, Kans., to-
morrow.
It was disclosed yesterday that
he had voluntarily given up his
$19,541 in annual pay and allow
ances. The general has said that
should he get the nomination he
will resign his commission and he
repeated that assertion today.
AS for his previous position that
he meant to keep out of politics,
the general said:
II did miscalculate. I thought
that statement, though, would
insure my being left alone to do
my job. I wasn't left alone"
Speaks on Many Issues.
Gen. Eisenhower spoke out on a
number of topics-some of them
bordering on the political con-
troversies of the day.
He said such moves as a 10 per
cent fiat cut in military spending
propoSalS-aS some members of
Congress have urged-is a meat
ak way Of doing things"
The general asserted that he
had never heSitated under ZAP
propriate circumstances to speak
my mind freely and I do not in
tend to In the future"
He promised that IT will be as
frank as I know how to be-"
Gen. Eisenhower was asked why