Evening star., 1955-01-31
ArTnyCutbacks
Stir Criticism at
House Hearing
Both Stevens and
Ridgwuy Are Wary
On Indorsine Plan
ByceciI HolIond

O-~EN
into sharp criticism today al
Army Secretary Stevens and
Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway tes-
titled before the House Armed
Services Committee.
Members of the committee
sought unsuccessfully to find Out
at a public hearing whether the
new military program was ap-
proved by the top Army COM
mand and the Joint Chiefs oi
Staff.
The question was put directly
to Gen. Ridgway, Army Chief OF
Staff, who has been reported as
strongly opposing the Army cut
Gen. Ridgway. in a cautious
reply, indicated his opposition
to the reductions proposed by
the administration and said:
1T is my Judgment that ques-
ton should be answered in ex-
ecutiye session."
Insists On Reply.
Representative Kilday, Demo-
crat of Texas, who asked the
question, said he had no OBJ
lection to that but wanted an
answer in one way or another
since he had failed to get 1t
from others in closed sessions.
Representative Vinson. Demo-
crat, of Georgia, the chairman,
said the committee would get
the answer in a closed meeting
and then decide whether to make
it public.
Were going to have to go to
the floor and say something
about that matter" Mr.. Vinson
commented.
Gen. Ridgway said that in a
mobile war the overall strength
of the Army probably could be
considerably less than in World
War II. He went on to say,
however, that with the integra-
ton of new weapons into mill
tary units, it is his reasoned
Judgment that it is more likely
for a 'given force" to require
more rather than less manpower.
Notes Changing Conditions.
He said the military used to
think of q combat zone Of 80 to
so miles. Now, he said, it is
thinking of a zone of $50 to 200
miles as result of the greater
destruction and mobility of
weapons and ability to bring
troops in more rapidly.
Since the enemy has the ca
pacity of modern, destructive
weapons, the general said, opera
tions cannot permit a concen-
trated target but must be based
on the ability to concentrate
forces rapidly. disperse rapidly
and concentrate again.
All this, he said, points clear
ly to me that for a structural
field force of given composition
the need will be for more rather
than fewer men,"
Mr.. Stevens lodged an answer
in public when he was asked by
Representative Price, Democrat,
OF Illinois, whether he indorsed
the Administrators new mill
tary program without reserva-
ton" However, in response to a
question by Mr.. Kilday, he said
Il accepted it completely"
Stresses Economy Aims.
Previously Mr.. Stevens had
stressed the administration
argument that reduced expend-
itures were requested in order
to carry on an adequate defense
for long time to come. But to
the specific question put by Mr..
Price, Mr.. Stevens said he, too,
would like to answer it in a
closed session.
The administrations program
calls. for a reduction in the
present 1,175,00O strength of the
Army to IL million on June 80
and a further reduction to L.
025,000 during the 1856 fiscal
year.
Mr.. Vinson and other COM
mittee members pointedly ques-
toned Mr.. Stevens throughout
his testimony on the proposed
retrenchment.
Mr.. Vinson pointed out that
the program was decided on
without consultation with Con-
gress which has the constitu-
tional authority to determine the
size of the Army. He pointed out
that legislation adopted last year
providing for Army strength of