Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-01
Senator's 10 Get
Views
On ArInYC'u
Russell Soys General
VIII De Heurd il
Defense Plan Review


Senator Russell, Democrat. 81
Georgia said today Cen. Mat
thew b. Ridgway would be called
before the Senate Armed Serv-
Ices Committee III q VERY care
ful inquiry, into administration
defense plans. including d pro-
jected sharp cutback III Army
strength.
Senator MonrOney. Democrat
EOf Oklahoma, indOrsing the idea,
said he hopes senator Russell
IS chairman 81 the Armed Eerv.
ices group III the new Benocra-
tic controlled Congress win con-
duct 81 fIlll dress study Of MILF
tary nianp0Wer and defense
needs. \
Senator Russell voiced r1c
opinion On the PLANNED TnanpoW.
er reductions. but be said Gen
Ridgway. Army Chief of Stan
and other armed service chiefs
would be summoned to give the
Senate group "a complete brief
ing Oh our defense plans. z
Others back can,
Senators Kerr of Oliahoma
and Mansfield Of Montana, like
Morrnneg Democratic critics d
administration defense moves,
said they wanted to hear what
Gen. RidgWay had 10 say about
plans t0 reduce Army strength
243, 900 men 10 3 new level 81
i ,I00, 900 by June 50. largely BY
sharply trimming draft calls. A
further pairing 81 100, 900 army
men y protested for the year
following.
The Democratic Senators
spoke out iii separate interviews
after The unofficial Army Navy
Air Force journal reported yes
terday that Gen. RidgWay had
protested the projected Army
cuts Ia 3 letter TO President
Eisenhower.
IN Augusta, Ca, where Presi-
dent Eisenhower is mentioning,
Press Secretary James q. nag
Eerty denied the report that Gen.
RidgWay wrote the President
expressing concern over the cut
back.
he said that prior 10 the cut
buck decision announced ~
Secretary 81 Defense wilson, MI,
Wilson was III touch with all his
service secretaries and their
chiefs Of stan regarding the
problem.
Among recommendations re-
ceiyed lit that time was Gen.
RidgWay's. Mr.. Hagerty de-
cliiled to say what the general
said.
Discussed at Pentagon.
After the recommendations
were received. and at the Presi-
dents direction, there was 4
Pentagon meeting at which
everything was discussed. This
was still before Mi. Wilson an
laOunced the cutback.
Mr.. Hagerty said the Journals
story implies that Gen. Ridg-
way went over the heads Of Mr..
Wilson and the Army Secretary
To make j protest and that this is
not the case.
In b move toward thinning its
ranks, the Army announced yes
terday 1t hopes next May and
June To discharge "A, 600 draftees
as much as two months before
their 24-naOnth bitches are up.
This plan still must set final
approval. Also tabled for early
release would be about 3.400 re-
serve lieutenants.
Charges Cuts Dangerous.
Senator Monrpney said i've
been protesting this cut since II
was first announced. It appears
to weaken our strength for peri
meter warfare Of the type that
the Communists have continued
In recent years
Senator Mansfield. d member
cf the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. said he Is certain
Congress Wiil have many ques-
tions for Gen. Ridgway concern
Ing the newest new look.
1T sharply reduces our reg
liiar Army. It cuts back our
defensive strength and II les
sens our security. \ be added.
Senator Kerr also questioned
the planned Army cuthack, say
ing:
THE only thing I'm more IN
terested Ia than economy Ia an
adequate national defense. any
thing that Gen. Hidgway would
say on that would be very sig
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