Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-04-12
Conflict on Mobilization Plans
Up to President for Decision

until the Russians were ready to
start things in earnest.
So, the Truman administration
CHANGED the possibility of an
immediate Russian attack and
embarked on a long-ranged pro-
gram which it was believed the
country could maintain indefl-
nitely. This program was formu-
lated by former Secretary of De-
tense Lovett and another Charles
E. Wilson, the former General
Electric president who then was
director Of Defense Mobilization.
The long-haul program called
for tremendous expansion of ia
cilities to produce both materials
and finished products-weaponS
and other goods. The object was
to maintain a high-level civilian
economy while building up and
sustaining the Nations military
strength to the point necessary
to discourage the men of the
Kremlin. AS one example, steel
production capacity was to be
increased from 100 million ingot
tons to around 100 million. That
part of the program is nearing
completion.
There were three stages, or
phases, to the military buildup.
The armed forces were to be
increased to 3.8 million and
equipped. Enough weapons
planes, tanks, etc.-would be
stockpiled to wage a year of all
out war. The facilities to pro-
duce for about war would be
made ready. and kept ready, for
use at any time. This meant that
many of the plants would be
operated at only a third or half
capacity rate; others would be
kept in standby condition, but
ready for full operation should
Midday strike.
The original target date for
the peak of this military build-up
originally was mid-1954. A year
ago, the program was stretched
out another year.
The program called for the
Government to provide funds to
equip and maintain the standby
plants as well as those operated
part time. The entire program is
far from completion.
Program "TOo Expensive"
Mr.. Wilson was said to feel the
program is both too expensive
and unnecessary. Instead of
building a certain type of jet
bomber in several plants, all
operating at partial capacity, he
believed considerable money
could be saved by concentrating
output in one plant. And under
his reasoning, the other plants
could be reopened by the time
men had been trained to use
them.
Precise details of the Wilson
plan never were revealed, and
those who know them are not
talking now. In fact, Army Sec
rotary Stevens told the Senate
ammunition shortage" hearing
Friday Mr.. Wilson has said moth
ing to him about any plans about
changing the mobilization build
up.
Saltonstall Disagrees.
Chairman Saltonstall of the
Senate Armed Services Commit
tee yesterday indicated disagree
ment with published reports of
Mr.. Wilson's plan for changing
the mobilization of industry. He
made public a letter to Mr.. Will
son and the latter's answer in
which the Defense Secretary
acknowledged for the first time
publicly he had planned some
changes.
II personally have always felt. !"
Senator Saltonstall told Mr.. Will
son, that a broad mobilization
base was of extreme Importance
for the present and future Sc
curity of our country, and that
money spent for such a base, If
properly thought out and prop
erly expended, was money that
the taxpayer could well afford
for our citizens security. I
look with great apprehension on
any radical change in this con-
cept."
Mr.. Wilson replied he was
sure Senator Saltonstall will find
that we look at it very much
alike, when I have had a chance
to explain to you my thinking"
He said he had found "some
evidence of unbalanced capacity"
in the defense production pro-
gram land perhaps cases where
We put too much money into
creating potential capacity and
not quite enough into current
production"
Mr.. Wilson suggested he talk
to the Senator and his commit
tee after returning from a trip
to Europe early next month.
In looking about for places to
cut the military budget for the
next fiscal year, Mr.. Wilson was
said to have his eye particularly
on a $577 million item ear