Evening star., 1953-06-09
Wilson Tells
Pentdgon Aides
Work, Cut Talk
Won't RetuIiute
Against Critics,
However, He Says
By John A. Giles

Secretary of Defense Wilson
said today he felt the adminis-
tration's critics in the Pentagon
Should work a little more and
talk little less"
He made this comment when
asked by Senator Margaret Chase
Smith, Republican, of Maine
whether he planned any retalia-
tory action against those who
have criticized President Eisen-
hower's reductions in Air Force
spending. The most vocal critic
has been Gen. Hoyt S. Vanden-
berg, retiring Air Force Chief of
Staff.
Mr.. Wilson assured the Sena-
tor he planned to take no action
against the critics and he added,
as did Air Force Secretary Tai
bott. who was asked the same
question, II somewhat resent it,"
"As far as I am concerned, I
want to present the facts to the
Congress and the people without
giving aid and comfort to the
enemy" Mr.. Wilson continued.
Won't Start "Any More Fires"
Bue he added that when some
one talks, he should know the
facts. and if he miSrepresents
the facts, he should be held re-
sponsible."
He followed this statement
with the comment that he was
not "in favor of starting any
more fires"
Mr.. Wilson, before the Senate
Military Appropriations subcom-
mittee for the second day. con-
tinued his stout defense of the
cut he has made in the Air
Force budget. At one point he
remarked that he could probably
have cut it more, but he felt
some leeWay should be left for
an emergency.
Senator Smith questioned him
at-length about construction of
North African Air Force bases,
which has been criticized as
wasteful by a Senate committee.
Mr.. Wilson admitted there had
been waste and extravaganza be-
cause the job was rushed through
with the idea of finishing it in
six months - IAN impossible
task" he added.
Hard to Fix Responsibility.
The Secretary said it was diff
f1cult to pinpoint the RESPONSE
bility for what had happened.
1T was a poor job and the
only possible excuse is that it
was a crash Tush) job" he
edded. "The building of five
bases in six months was an i'm
possible assignment"
Mrs. Smith kept pressing for
the naming of some one who
was responsible and finally the
Secretary asked:
"You want to put the finger
on him so we can fire him?"
Mrs. Smith assured the Secre-
tary she did not have such an in
tention, but that she felt there
should be clearer lines of au-
thority in the sprawling defense
establishment.
No Rush From Korea.
Mr.. Wihon told the committee
that truce in Korea would not
mean a quick recall Of American
troops from the Far East or a
reduction in the ammunition
production program.
1.-THE people will be disap-
pointed that we cannot bring our
troops back home right away"
Mr.. Wilson said. But if we get
truce in Korea it will take at
least six months to liquidate the
prisoner Of war problem and we
will have to keep our people
there under any circumstances"
Secretary Wilson said he was
surprised to find how soft" the
Air Force budget was on taking
office early this year.
AS an example of this, he said
that So billions in spare engine
parts had been ordered since the
start of the Korean war, while
the service had used only So bill
lion worth in three years.
Some of the parts are for
planes not yet manufactured, he
said.
Mr.. Wilson again declared
there would be sufficient
funds for the Air Force to mod
ernize 143 wings when the planes
could be delivered.
"You can't get planes in one
half the time by appropriating
twice the amount of money" he
declared.