Evening star., 1953-09-24
BY Elton Fay
Associoted Press Sioff Writer

hydrogen bomb may soon ex-
plode into practical reality
stepped in significance today an
unusual meeting of the Ma
tional Security Council.
The new Joint Chiefs of Staff,
who comprise Americas high
military command. already are
overdue with recommendations
on the size and shape of the
armed forces for the year start
ing next July /.
This entirely new look" it
was learned today, swas ordered
by the White House and Defense
Department primarily because
nuclear experts warned that the
H-bomb is well on its way to
frightful reality.
President Eisenhower and an
unusually large number of his
Government aides and advisers
were present at today's meeting
of the top-level Security Council.
Normally fewer than a dozen
persons-cabinet members and
advisers from the armed forces
and other agencies-attend the
weekly meeting. But today 26
names were listed in addition to
that # the President, who serves.
as Ct lncil chairman.
Be des the full membership
of tn Joint Chiefs of Staff and
the s 'etaries of the armed
services. the White House called
to the meeting six special con-
sultants on continental defense,
among them 1t. Gen. Harold w.
Bull, retired, now attached to
the Central Intelligence Agency.
James C. Hagerty, White
House press secretary, told re-
porters there was little chance
OF any announcement on results
of the council session.
Mr.. Hagerty was asked at a
news conference, held while the
council was in session, whether
it was discussing "the whole
atomic program" He declined
comment.
In reply to another question,
Mr.. Hagerty said he knew of no
plans for series of speeches by
the President and other Gov
ernment officials to give the peo-
pie fuller picture of problems
involved in the Nations secur-
ity. He did not deny, however.
that a project of this kind had
been discussed at White House
staff meetings.
Gen. Eisenhower and Secre-
tary of Defense Wilson, when
they picked the new staffs chiefs
last spring, let it be known their.
orders were to take a thorough
look at the military machine
and produce report.
This report would be the
basis for budget recommended
tions for the Defense Depart
ment.
Deadline Comes and Goes.
But September Is. the deadline
set by Budget Director Joseph
M, Dodge for all preliminary
budget estimates. came and went
without any recommendation by
the. Joint Chiefs. Mr.. Wilson
was reported considering a man
date to the chiefs to have their
report ready in two weeks.
Recasting of the defense setup
is compelled not only because
American physicists have brought
their hydrogen explosive research
virtually to the point of prac-
tical weapon. It gains impetus
also from ample and ominous
evidence that Russia too is rae
ing along the same path.
The United States Government
thus is confronted with two
problems of the utmost urgency
and gravity:
/. To convince the world of
the utter devastation that would
come with war using the new
weapon.
2. To seek tighter defense of
the North American continent
against nuclear attack-a de-
fense which even the most opti-
miStic do not believe can be alb
solute.
Suitcase" Attacks Possible.
Those responsible for planning
continental defense must reckon
with more than atomic or hydro
gen bomb air raids. They must
consider the possibilities of suit
case" bomb attacks-a ship COM
ing into harbor with a bomb
concealed in her hold, an inno-
cent-appearing trailer truck