Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-19
Wilson Sets
Slash at
100000
by JOHN A. GILES

President Eisenhower today
q second 100, O0O-man
tut in the armed forces because
military spending has not been
reduced.
Defense Secretary Wilson, in
announcing the new slash,
ordered that the reductions be
accomplished "as promptly as
possible. !" He made one ex-
ception for the Marine Corps
which will be allowed to trim
5000 Of its 10000 allotment
early in the next fiscal year.
Mr.. Wilson, with White
House blessing. ordered the
first 1OO.000-man cut on July
is and said it must be COM
pleted by January /.
The two reductions, total
ling 200, 900, will reduce uni-
form manpower to 2.6 million
men.
Saving Next Year
A spokesman said the latest
cut would have little
Or no effect on spending this
fiscal year. However, he said,
It is estimated that $500 mill
lion would be saved in the
fiscal period beginning next
July /. The administration Is
cutting back on the military
establishment TO keep defense
spending within the x38 billion
ceiling set in Mr.. Eisenhower's
budget.
Except for our announced
reductions in Japan. this pro-
gram is to be achieved without
materially affecting our de-
ployment Of major combat
units abroad" Mr.. Wilson said
in his memorandum to the
Secretaries Of the Army, Navy
and Air Force.
He ordered the military Sec
retaries 70 submit monthly
plans 70 achieve the maximum
rate 81 reduction designed to
accomplish the new detectives.
Within Framework
Mr.. Wilson said the new OBJ
jectives "can be accomplished
within the framework Of q ball
anced military program and
without impairment Of our ma
tional security"
He said the detectives could
be accomplished through i'm.
provement Of efficiency and
elimination Of nonessentials
and duplication in administra.
live and logistical support ac-
tiyities; capitalizing on tech-
biological advances; developing
10 the fullest extent the effec-
tive combat capabiIity Of SMALL
er. more mobile forces. and re-
turnover Of trained, ef-
Iective combat-ready personnel.
The Army which was cut 5O,-
boo men in the first order, has
been given q similar reduction
in the latest one. It viii have
100000 men at the end Of this
fiscal year. The present
strength is 100000 men 10000
under the authorized strength.
The Navy has been cut 3d.
BOO under the orders and will
have a strength of 645,000 at
The end of the fisieal period.
The present strength is $4,000.
The two orders slaShed the
Air Force by $4,000. 1t pres-
emily has 922. 200 and the new
strength is 875, 900.
The Marine Corps was re.
duced 10000 in July. It's new
reduction is 10000 but it win be
allowed to carry over most Of
that cut into early fiscal year
1859. The Marine Corps now
has 199,500 in uniform. Its
latest authorized strength is
1873. 200.
Mr.. Wilson said that in adj
dition to making these per-
sonnet adjustments promptly.
4 urge those responsible in the
three services. both military
and civilian, to continue ag-
gressively the search for saw
lngs which can be made in
defense expenditures with q
view to maintaining necessary
military capabilities and avoid
ing reduction in combat
forces"
On Tuesday Mr.. Wilson in
dicated to reporters that fur
her reductions in military ex-
penditures were inevitable be.
cause overall Government
hasn't come down.
Despite the all-out economy
Efforts initiated in June. mill
AIRY spending Is still about $40
billion a year.