Evening star., 1953-05-23

0en. IWinIng SoyS AR foTce Son Pene-
trote Any Soviet Defenses. Poee AZ
Michigan. came after demands
that Secretary of Defense Will
son resign and that generals who
have led the Air Force appear
for committee questioning.
Mr.. Ford said he was sure
there would be no change and
certainly no increases when a
subcommittee now considering
the Air Force budget sends it on
to higher subcommittee study
ing the whole $50 billion military
budget.
A check of the three members
OF the smaller subcommittee
showed them divided on whether,
as maintained in an Air Force
report. the proposed cutbacks
would reduce air power below
the absolute minimum for ma
tio1al security.
Backed and DeplOred.
Chairman Scriner. Republican,
of Kansas generally supported
the proposed reductions; Repre-
sentative Mahon, Democrat, of
Texas said he deplored them and
Representative Hruska, Repub-
lican, of Nebraska said he had
not yet reached a decision, al
though he trusted President
Eisenhower's military Judgment.
This group, however. is only
the first rung on the ladder. Ac-
ton would follow in the military
subcommittee, the full Appropri-
ations Committee and the House
itself. Senate action is COM
parable.
A member Of the Senate Ap-
preparations Committee. Senator
Maybank. Democrat, of South
Carolina, asked that Gen. Hoyt
S Vandenberg, retiring Air
Force chief. and Gen. Carl
Spaatz. retired former head, be
called for testimony.
Senator Maybank is among a
number of Congressman who are
publicly questioning plans to cut
more than SIS billion from Air
Force funds and lower the Air
Force goal from 143 wings by
mid-1955 to 120 wings.
Demands Wilson Quit.
Representative Yorty, Demo-
crat, Of California, a World War
II Air Force intelligence officer,
said Mr.. Wilson should quit as
Defense chief. adding in a state
ment:
THE dollars he worships will
not shoot down attacking
planes"
Representative Steed, Demo-
crat. of Oklahoma. an air power
enthusiast, said millions of dol
lars had been wasted on the
Army's atomic cannon. He said
the money could much better
be spent on additional aircraft
to deliver atomic bombs.
Mr.. Yorty earlier had put in
the Congressional Record what
he called an Air Force reply to
Mr.. Wilson'S budget and spend
ing cutbacks.
An Air Force spokesman said
it was prepared at Mr.. Yorty's
request in the Office of Maj.
Gen Robert E. L. Elton, direc-
tor of legislative iaison.
Chairman Ferguson of the
Senate Appropriations Subcom-
mittee handling the defense
funds said he would insist that
Air Force personnel responsible
for the report testify before his
group.
After Senator Maybank's ap-
peal for testimony from Gen.
Vandenherg and Gen. Spaatz,
Senator Ferguson said he would
ask them to testify along with
ANY one else any committeeman
wants to appear"
Gen. Vandenberg and Gen.
Spaatz, as they have in the past,
would be expected to oppose the
reduction in goals and in funds
from $16.77S, 100000 proposed by
former President Truman to
$11,688 .00O. 900.
Mr.. Yorty released a letter
from Secretary Of the Air Force
Harold E. Talbot, in which the
Secretary expressed disappoint-
ment that our activities have to
be curtailed."
Talbot "StilI Hopeful"
''I am still hopeful" the letter
added. that it viii net be neces-
sary for us to curtail any fight
"a