Evening star., 1954-04-26
New Look Helping Defense,
Wilson Tells II. S. Chamber

| Wilson ! ellis II
Secretary of Defense Wilson
said today the new look" study
of the Nations defenses has been
completed, resulting in great
and encouraging progress" in
the military program.
He added that he makes no
claim that all inefficencies and
waste in defense activities have
been eliminated nor that all OBJ
I jectiveS will be achieved shortly.
There must be continuing i'm
provement. he said. adding:
while we must have plans
and progams for the long pull,
we must always be ready to take
a new look at them when world
conditions change or new scien-
tific and technical developments
indicate the desirability of max
ing some modification in our
military and strategic plans"
Mr.. Wilson addressed the
opening session of the 42nd an
nual meeting of the United
States Chamber of Commerce
President Eisenhower was to
| greet the members and their
guests attending the session in
Constitution Hall.
The Defense Secretary re-
minded his hearers that last
summer he had announced that
the new Joint Chiefs of Staff
were to take a new look at the
entire defense picture"
While this has now been ac-
complished, he said, programs
are always subject to change.
"The next few months are OBJ
viously critical one in world af-
| fairs" he said. land what nap
pens in Europe and Asia during
this period may force q SOUL
searching review Of our specific
policies. plans, objectives and
expenditures.
The Secretary called atten-
ton to the big turnover in the
top men at the Pentagon and
said also the numper of civilian
employees .of the military estab-
lishment have been reduced by
100000.
Notes Personnel Changes.
Il made a list not very long
ago Of what I considered to be
the top 35 men in the Pentagon
military and civilian) and found
that only five of them have the
same JOBS now that they had IS
months ago." Mr.. Wilson ex-
planned
In any big organization a
turnover of 80 out of the top
35 people in a 15-month period
would present quite a problem.
He said there is still the job
OF getting better acquainted with
and understanding one another
without writing too many let
tiers. making too many reports
and having too much argument.
He added that the reduction
in personnel not only has not
made the organization less effec-
tive but has improved it.
Urges Strong Schools.
- Before Mr.. Wilson spoke, !.
Richard L. Bowditch, president
of the chamber. called for
stronger school system and said
nothing must hamper it's free
dom of inquiry and discussion"
This Nation was conceived
and rose to world leadership on
the ideas Of non n-conformists and
freeWheelers, of men and women
OF integrity and wide vision, of
individuals with bold far-reach-
ing minds, who insisted on cross
ing the frontiers of the un-
known" Mr.. Bowditch said in his
keynote address. ". They
dared to disagree on many
things. but our country and our
culture are infinitely richer and
stronger for their challenge"
Mr.. Bowditch said "a strong
school system should be Amer
ica's first line of defense against
freedom-killing communism and
the danger Of IAN all-consum-
ing World War III"
While Russia is only the
newest and strongest of the
enemies of freedom" throughout
the pages of history, he said this
time through the accidents of
size. geographical position. and
sheer. wealth of natural and
human resources. we have been
compelled to champion the
whole Western world"
Must Unite Against War.
The business leader said
Americas objective beyond all
others" is to prevent the out
break of an all-consuming World
War III" This requires spend
ing unknown billions" for arms,
skilled negotiating and "above
all the united effort Of the
American people and our allies"
he said.
But Mr.. Bowditch, a Boston
steamship executive. said. this
country cannot act as world