Evening star., 1955-02-03
The Political Mill
The Political Mill
Democrats Hard Put
In Fight on Army Cuts
Porty Is Arguing Against
An Expert on Military Needs
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
President Eisenhower's determination
to continue to favor the proposed
100000 cut in the Army is making DEM
ocratic attacks on that proposal less and
less likely to succeed. The President at
his press conference yesterday left no
doubt in any ones mind he would not
be swayed by the opinion of the Army
Chief of Staff, Gen. Matthew B. Ridg-
way, who testified before House COM
mittee that he believed such an Army
cut would be detrimental to the ma
tional defense.
Further Mr. Eisenhower pointed to
the fact that, as Commander in Chief,
he gets the views of high ranking Of
ficers and officials on this and other
subjects relating to national defense,
but that his is the decision. In this par
ticular case, he told the newspaper re-
porterS, he was fully informed as to the
views of these officers and officials-that
he knew who favored the cut and who
opposed.
General Entitled to Opinion.
Gen. Ridgway, the President said,
was entitled to his own opinion of the
proposed cut, and was in duty bound to
give it when questioned by the Con-
gresSmen. But, the President added,
Gen. Ridgway's responsibility for ma
tional defense is rather specialized and
parochial. 1t is not the overall respon-
sibility which he, the President, must
bear as Commander in Chief. This
i,,ha TOD MI f1oof TxaTN
Ridgway was giving consideration to
the part the Army must play in ma
tional defense, without taking into
consideration as fully as the President
the roles which the Navy and Air Force
also must play.
The Presidents fiat statement in
favor of the proposed Army cut, which
would reduce the Army strength from
1,170000 to 100000 by June 80, and
to 1,025, 900 by June 80, 1856, makes it
necessary for the Democrats in Con-
gress to decide whether to follow Mr..
EiSenhower-Who was the supreme
commander in the European area Of
World War II-or to follow Gen. Ridg-
way. If they determine to go with Gen.
Ridgway, they risk breaking with pub
lie opinion, which is more likely to ac-
cept the opinion of the President Try
ing to make the voters decide against
Mr. Eisenhower on strictly military
matters is going to be tough job--and
some of the Democrats realize it. Fur
ther, the Presidents reiterated stand in
favor of the cut in the Army personnel
was made in full knowledge of the Far
East situation and the Presidents an
nounced determination, with the full
sanction of Congress, to defend For
mosa against Red Chinese attack.
War Chances Seen Less.
The President believes this clear
statement of the intention of the
United States to fight, instead of in
creasing the danger of war is making
the chances of armed conflict in the
Formosa area much less. Since that is
his view it is logical he will not be
hurried into a reversal of his Judgment
on the proper size of the Army. The
Democratic critics. on the other hand,
argue that the tense situation makes it
necessary to retain the Army at its
present strength. The President. how
ever, believes that for all contingencies
likely to arise this year and next, the
reduced force will be sufficient. Un-
doubtedly, the President, in reaching
his conclusions, is taking into consider
alton the tremendous development in
new and powerful weapons in the air.
the sea and on land.
The President has given very clear
demonstration, withal, that he is not
gagging members of the armed forces
when they appear before congressional
committees. Indeed, he is leaning over
backward in this matter, and making
no criticism of Gen. Ridgway because
of his testimony before the House
Armed Services Committee, He has he
said, discussed with Democratic leaders
the question of Army cuts, and is giving
them the full advantage OF his reason
ing and the facts.
His optimism in regard to the For
mosan situation rests on the fact he has
removed from all minds, including
those of the Communists, any belief
this country will not fight to prevent
Communist domination of that island.
He has, he believes, made that crystal
clear, and has been backed up by Con-
gress. Too many times, he believes.
wars have been started because OF
misconception of the attitude of an ad-
yersary, a miscalculation. Two classic
cases are, in his opinion. World War 1
and the more recent Korean war. In
the case of World War II, his belief is
that Hitler's determination to run over
any possible adversaries, was COM
pelling.