Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-02
Military Ends Year
WithLess Personnel,
Claims More Power
BY me Assoeiossd pr.ss

i ~ NV NsScStato6 ' tNbo 40
The military ends this year
with about 100000 fewer uni.
formed personnel but claiming
more actual fighting power than
at the start.
In the armed forces today
the Army. Navy. Marines and
Air Force are about 3K million
men and the trend will continue
downward during 1855. reaching
q level Of about 8 million at mid
year.
During the last IL months
there have been substantial cut
backs In some items OF military
procurement. notably in Army
buying Of automotive equipment
and ammunition. Expenditures
for ship building decreased.
Spending for production equip
rnent tplant facilities) was
dropped.
This reduction in manpower
and In the procurement Of cer-
tain hard goods has had its
impact. even though 1t may have
been regional In nature, on the
national economy.
Aircraft Takes LEAD.
On the other hand, the con-
tinued buildup of air power has
held Federal spending in that
important field at q level only
slightly below the previous year
and above 1852. Over half OF
the total military expenditures
for major equipment is for air.
craft.
SO the net. over-all result has
been to continue military SPEND
ing at q rate close to the levels
OF the last three years-a rate
which meant that about two
thirds Of all Federal expendi-
lures have been for national
defense.
Expenditures for the current
fiscal year. ending June S0J are
expected to be in the area of $35
billions. Some educated guess
ing" is that spending In the fiscal
year beginning next July / will
be around $33 billion.
Here Is the way the military
force looks at the year end:
Air Force--The Ar Force now
has about lit wings OF the 1877,
wing goal at which 1t aims by
mid-l957. About seven Of the
wings are heavy bombers OF the
strategic air command, q larger
number are the medium BAT
Jets or B-5O piston engined
planes, approximately 1000 let
interceptor planes are based for
continental defense Of the United
States and organized in about
rs wings. Personnel strength
now is about 100000 men. an in
crease tand the only one for any
Of the services) Of about 47,O0O
since the start Of the year.
Naval air - The Navy OPP
crates about Is carrier air groups
Of combat, planes. the Marine
Corps three wings,
Army--The Army during the |
year has stood at an organiza-
tionai strength Of 10 divisions
and 10 regimental combat teams.
Tan infantry division. at full
strength. consists of about II. 500 |
men. d regimental combat team
about 5000. However, all d.
visions on station in the United
States are not at full strength.)
Present Army nlanpCwer strength
Is about 1,35O. 900. compared with
l.480 900 at the start Of the year.
Naval Strength.
Navy-The Navy operated an
average Of 1000 ships during the
last IL months. aboy i the force
Of the previous year. The fleet |
included Il large carriers. about
which its major striking power Is
built Manpower Of the Navy |
now is about roo. 900, comparing |
with 765, 900 at the outset Of 1854. !
What Defense Secretary VII
son calls getting more defense |
for the dollar spent seems TO
have been in the increase Of fire- |
power and Of means for deliver
ing the firepower. Atomic wea- |
pons got heavy emphasis during
1 tho year. ,