Evening star., 1955-02-06
Opposition Mounts
In Congress Over
Army-Navy SIashes
By Cecil Holland

0y \6(U ttVHouo
A rising tide of congressional
doubt. is threatening to engulf
the administrators plan for
military cutbacks despite a pow
eYful voice newly raised IN sup
port of the lower manpower
goals by Chairman vinson OF
the House Armed Services Com
mittee.
The worSening Far East sltu-
alton is the cause of opposition
to reduced military forces. Ihe
legislators are keeping their
worries in the background Tor
the present.
But in private conversation
they make 1t plain that PreSi-
dent Eisenhower's proposals re-
garding armed service, strength
may face rough going at the
Capitol.
Most of all, they are concerned
About the planned slash in Army
strength from l,l10,000 at pres
ent to l,025,000 during the fiscal
year starting June 80. I
Formosa Situation Critical.
Only the Presidents command
Ing prestige and reputation as a
military leader appear to stand
in the way of an outright fight
to restore some of the cuts pro-
posed by the administration.
Even so, the fight may come
il the Formosan situation re-
mains critical.
That, in general, is the view
of congressional leaders most
familiar with the military picture
from briefings. public and pri-
vate, which they have received
in recent weeks from admlnistra-
ton leaders.
I'VE are plenty worried" said
one Senator yesterday. "Espe-
cially over the Army cuts. We
are not sure it is wise move"
Concerned Over Cutbacks.
But Mr.. Vinson. Georgia
Democrat, dismissed the idea
that the House Armed Services
Committee might back Gen.
Ridgway in his fight to restore
the proposed Army manpoWer
cuts. He SAID his committee
would take no further action on
this question.
The chairman said that the
new minimum total of 1850 600
men in uniform was designed to
stabilize the armed services to
meet Communist threats for
years.
II have had considerable con-
Germ about the reductions, par
ticularly the reductions in the
Army" Mr.. Vinson asserted in an
interview. And I have no heSl-
fancy in saying that the sole
reason for my acquiescence in
these reductions is based on a
new policy of stability"
The doubterS on the Hill are
expressing their concern i'll in
creasingly critical questioning of
Secretary of Defense Wilson and
other Pentagon leaders in their
appearances before congressional
committees concerned with the
defense budget and military
planning.
The questioning centerS on
two main points: the Army cut
back described by Gen. Matthew
B. Ridgway. Army Chief OF
Staff. as jeopardizing Ito a de-
gree" the security of the coun-
try-and a proposed Navy re-
duction of 100 ships, including
some amphibious vessels.
Il haven't been sold on the
Army cuts" said one member
of Congress, although they are
doing a good job in trying to
salt me up"
The planned Army cutback is
interpreted around the Capitol
as a clear indication the admin
istration has no intention OF be-
coming engaged with ground
forces on Formosa or elsewhere
in the Far East. But who can
tell, the critics ask, what unex-
pected contingencies may develop
in that part of the world.
And there are other worries.
The newspapers have carried
stories in the last few days that
the French are stripping NATO
forces to beef up their troops in
North Africa" said one member
of Congress. How does that af-
feet us? And Russia. we note, is
increasing rather than decreaS-
ing it's military expenditures"
Cites Danger of Delay.
lIlGIG lS very llGIlG CAlIlSIoii Va
the program for the Air Force
and Navy-except regarding the
cut in amphibious ships. While
the Navy spokesmen argue such
ships could be restored to the
active feet very quickly, some
members of Congress said they
Just don't understand the cut.
Suppose we need them in a
hurry in the Far East?" asked
one. Even a little delay would
be bad"
What will be done about it?
"We just don't know said a
Senator. 1--WE may have some
amendments when the defense
appropriation bill gets to the
floor. At any rate, we want to
make the record clear"
That was a way of saying the
administration and Mr.. Eisen-
hover will be held strictly ac-
countablc for the military cut
backs, now and in the future,