Milford chronicle., 1953-06-12
CTS In Korea For
Six More Months
By Associated Press

by A5alGiQIeQ FfGsa
Secretary of Defense Wilson told
Congress this week it will be "six
months or more" before any u. S.
troops can begin moving out of
Korea after an armistice is reached.
Wilson'S statement marked the
first time. high Administration
official has set specific minimum
on the time American troops
would have to remain in the war
ravaged republic after the fighting
ends.
President Eisenhower and other
officials have said U. S. forces
would have to stand guard there
for some time, but have mentioned
no definite period.
Testifying before a Senate ap-
preparations subcommittee Wilson
challenged an estimate by the
Joint Chiefs Of staff that Russia
could launch an all-out atomic at
task against the United States by
mid-1954.
There is no reason to think
they would have atomic bombs in
quite that volume" he said.
Wilson thus disputed testimony
by Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, re-
tiring chief of staff, that the form
er Truman Administrations 143-
wing Air Force goal was the mini
mum needed to counter the threat
of a Soviet atomic attack.
Turning to the Korean situation,
Wilson declared that even after a
truce is signed, he wants to con-
tinue the buildup of ammunition
supplies there. This presumably
would be insurance in case the
armistice should end in new at
tacks by the Reds.
Quashing hopes for an early re-
turn of American CTS from the
war scene, Wilson reiterated what
he told the senator's this week
that the United States demObilized
too hastily after World War IL
and he declared:
Let's not get foolish now if we
shave a Korean armistice."
The defense chief said people
twill be ga little disappointed that
I'VE can't bring the boys back here,
but he said the situation in Korea
is still pretty disturbing"
Wilson took the witness chail
for his second straight day of re-
buttal against testimony of Vanden.
berg that the Eisenhower Admins,
ttratiOn's proposed $4,000, 100000
cut in air funds would leave this
country with a 3one-shot, second
best Air Force outmatched bJ
Soviet Russia's.
Pledges "NO Retaliation"
The secretary pledged 'no retail
alton" against Pentagon witnesses
whose testimony hasN run shaTpl!
counter to the Administration
views, but he commented:
4 do expect people in the De
tense Department to put out in
formation based on facts"
At another point, Wilson tOlc
the subcommittee it is mot a pOpu
lar job" to keep defense spending
at prudent levels, and he comment
ed wryly:
81 don't like it very we'll"
Wilson went on to say the net
sPentagOn command intends to con
tinue the buildup of U. S. air pow
fer But he said it 81 against asking
congress for new funds that can
Fbe spent efficiently.
The white-haired defense chic
: ssaid. the Truman Administration
abandoned its proposed goal of
14S-wing Air Force by mid-195
last January but was not homes
enough to tell the American peopl
about it. He contended the Truman
Administration knew the goa
tcould not be achieved, because tn
sAir Force was then nearly S.
t000,000,000 behind in its spendin
kpTOgram for aircraft.
He also testified former Secre
ttary OF Defense Robert A. LOvet
could have trimmed the entire dc
sfense budget sharply, but did nc
do so because he was ill'and didn
want to battle" with his oil
friends on the Joint Chiefs of Stat