Milford chronicle., 1955-02-11


no surprise, except insofar as
he openly declared a decisive
split with the civil administra-
tion Of the Defense Department
in an area where heretofore
there had been acquiescence, if
grumbling acquiescence.
Administration Position
He testified on the same day
as Secretary Of the Army Ste
vens, who seemed t. have argued
himself into the position that
the ALLEGATIONS were all right
and best for the country.
The administration position
has been that it can have an
army, equipped with modern
weapons and highly mobile,
which is just as powerful with
fewer men. With part Of the
savings. the strategic Air Force
can be built up for its vital role
in hacking up diplomacy, some
what after the former fashion
for navics "in being" The net
savings even after this are con
sidered important to mainte-
nance Of q sound national econ
omy, without which no modern
armed force could long operate.
But the trouble is, said Ridg-
way, diplomatic commitments
already have over-extended the
Army IF reductions keep up
the administration proposes to
drop 10000 men in about 10.
months - reallocations Of man.
power are going to be necessary,
affecting not only the ability of.
the Army to defend itself in as
signed positions, but also affec-
ting The strength Of its support;
for diplomacy in various areas.
Concern Over Reserve
The administration itself has
expressed concern UVel the re-
serve situation anG IS making
plans for a new systo.n to INSURE
a prepared reserve. Eut this is
as yet far away.
Dafcrse officials only this
week, while the Army reduction
fight was under way, told Con /
gresg at other hearing that al
four-yeHr extension of the pres
ent draft laws was essential.
The same committee held both
hearings. It IS headed by that
long time supporter Of the
armed forces, Rep. rarl Vinson
The sympathy shown for Ridg- /
ways views, and the bitter uues. /
tions about who is going to con i
troll the size Of the forces, Con /
gress or the administration.
were hy no means a PERSONAL
expression The attitude of the
committee as whole was clear /
" shown.
Faith m Ike
Il was sitting while fears of al
var IL the Pacific mounted. Sen
aters were not merely defendingl
what they considered their own
prerogatives. They were won
dering, as so many others have
wondered out loud in recent
months, whether the admins
tration was being carried away
N is effort to balance the budg- I
et
There was a great faith mi.
President Eisenhower's ability
g make military decisions. but
they were not sure about theII
advice be was getting, especially.
when Il ran directly counter tol,
the views Of the Army chief oil
the stad.
ln the background Of the dis
pute was the ancient ouestionli
Of how far g nations leaders
can 60 IN resting the nationalIi
security on their own assess
ments Of what is going on inr
the world. lf there is e chance
that they are wrong IN such anil
area, they cannot take risks
Eisenhower and his responsible
secretaries are convinced they
have struck the proper balances
not only between the diferent
services but between the armed
.orces and the national eco
homie picture as a whole. Con-
5ress seemed 70 be 10 mood toll
Jay that this is perhaps correct,
2ut that i win not accept anyl.
2erhapses.