Evening star., 1954-04-29
Military New Look
Stirs Row on Ability
To Halt Sneak Attack
BY Robert K. Walsh

A Republican-Democratic row
erupted in the House today on
whether the new look" military
program assures sufficient
strength to deter or defeat a
possible enemy sneak attack.
Representative Short, Repub-
lican, of Missouri, chairman of
the House Armed Services Com
mittee, declared that ''if any
possible enemy attacks us today.
God pity him" He added that
he did not think Soviet Russia
would dare attack this country.
He insisted, however, that the
$28.6 billion armed service ap-
preparation bill being debated by
the House makes us as strong
as our economy will allow us to
be, short of all-out total mobili-
zation."
House passage of the bill was
expected late today after sched-
uled fight over the most contro-
versial amendment proposal.
This amendment, to be offered
by Representative Coudert, Re-
publican, of New York, would
prevent the use of United States
troops in Indo-China or any
where else without consent of
Congress.
President Eisenhower, at his
news conference earlier today,
said such an amendment would
put an artificial restraint on his
Executive powers.
Although Democratic leaders
have indicated that they will
support the budget bill without
change in requested funds and
without the Coudert amendment,
Representative Mccormick, DEM
ocrat, of Massachusetts, told the
House he was gravely concerned
about the military policy in
volved in the so-called new look,
defense program.
He asked Mr.. Short whether
this country under this budget
would be strong enough not only
to block any sneak attack, but
also to make the Soviet Union
fear to attempt such an attack.
Wants Assurances.
Despite Mr.. Shorts assurances,
Mr.. Mccormick said he would
feel better if I'VE erred on the
side of strength and not on the
side of weakness"
Republican Floor Leader Hal
leck joined in the discussion by
accusing Mr.. Mccormick of voic-
ing doubts which might have
bad effect in other parts of the
world" Mr.. Halleck contended
that in event of a sneak attack
or sudden involvement in war
the United States could imme-
diately effect total mobilization
of manpower and resources.
Defeat Seen.
Advance signs seemed to indi-4
cate the Coudert amendment
would be defeated as was a SINH
lar proposal by Mr.. Coudert in
1851. Several legislative leaders
said, however, it might draw
considerable support and be dam
gerous misinterpreted elsewhere
in the world.
Representative Mahon, Demo-
crat. of Texas told the House
yesterday he personally had no
reason to believe American troops
will be sent to Indo- China. But
he added that he saw no reason
for adopting any amendment or
legislative expression that would
tip off potential enemies as to
what the United States might or
might not do.
The debate was occasionally
enlivened by such developments
as these:
/. The sports car races this
week end at Andrews Air Force
Base, and, elsewhere on military
premises, may become thing of
the past. Representative Scriv-
ner, Republican, of Kansas asked
Air Force officials to look into
numerous" complaints that
military personnel were practi-
cally compelled to take part in
voluntary" assignments for such
events, and that the Government
might be spending some of its
own money in some instances.
Mr.. Scrivner indicated that no
future contracts for such races
would be signed.
2. Representative Price, Demo-
crat, of Illinois complained that
the new look" military budget
still would not enable the Air
Force to recover from severe cut
backs in the previous year.