Evening star., 1961-07-26
KENNEDY
KENNEDY
Revenue Rise Seen
For Defense Costs
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
he plans to meet the Soviet
global threat was brief and
matter-of fact.
S.. "The funds requested will
provide for additional man
power and equipment, pri-
marily to improve the nom
. l1uclear defense capabilities of
our ground forces and of the
air element of the Navy and
Air Force, provide increased air
and sealift, and expand our
anti-submarine warfare pro-
gram" it said.
I'm addition, they will sup
aport an invigorated civil de-
tense program designed to lead
! to adequate protection of our
civilian population from the
devastating effects of nuclear
attack"
The requests, if they receive
expected congressional approval,
will bring the defense budget
for the fiscal year which start
ed July / to $47.5 billion.
This will result, the Presi-
dent said last night. in an esti-
mated $5 billion budget deficit.
The President did not ask
at this time for any increased
taxes, but he warned last night
that he might do so later.
Mr.. Kennedy said that of the
additional funds being re-
quested, $751 million would be
for military personnel, $743
million for operation and main
tenance. SIT billion for pro-
curement of military supplies
and equipment and SPOTS mil
lion for civil defense.
The requests included both
obligational authority and
spending authority. The White
House estimated that expendi-
lures in the current fiscal year
resulting from the new requests
would amount to $2.7 billion
about $2.6 billion for the mill
tary forces and $140 million for
civil defense. Total defense ex-
penditures for the 1862 fiscal
year thus would rise to $46.6
billion.
Asks Sacrifices
The President said last night
that his proposals would
require sacrifices and he will
ask for additional measures
Ito meet this threat to peace"
if they are needed.
Everything essential to the
security of freedom will be
done" the President promised.
"and if that should require
more men, taxes. controls or
other new powers, I shall not
hesitate to request them"
He said the requested funds
would be used to bolster the
Armed Forces by these steps:
/. Increase the Army's total
authorized strength from 875,-
900 to about one million men.
2. Requesting an increase in
the active duty strength of
$4,000 men in the Navy and
$1,000 in the Air Force.
8. Doubling and tripling draft
calls in the months ahead to
meet the manpower needs, plus
calling to active duty some
ready reserve units, individual
reServistS and a number of air
transport squadrons and Air
National Guard tactical squad
rons. Other reserve forces, the
President said, will be called
up If needed.
4. Retain or reactivate many
ships and planes once tabled
for retirement. including
Strengthening the country's
strategic air power by delay
ing the deactivation of BAT
bombers.
5. Procure non-nuclear weap-
onS, ammunition and equip
ment and start a civil defense
program that will include some
provisions for shelter to protect
citizens IF bombs begin to
fall"
The President said measures
taken earlier must be speeded
up. These included increas-
ing the size of the Marine
Corps, improved readiness of
the reserves, expansion Of sea
and air lift, strengthening of
missile power and putting so
per cent of the B-52 and BAT
strategic bombers on ground
alert which could send them on
their way within Is minutes OF
warning.
Seeks "Wider Choice"
The weight Of the Presidents
proposal was directed toward
building up the country's re-
sources for fighting a conven-
tional war. What he was pro-
posing, the President said, were
steps that would give the Uni
ted States and the free world
"a wider choice than humilia-
ton or all-out nuclear attack"
His sober warning to the
Russians throughout the speech
I'VE seek peace but we shall
never surrender" he said at
one point-underscored fear
that war might begin through
a miscalculation by Soviet
leaders of American intentions.
Three times in my lifetime"
Mr.. Kennedy said, "our coun-
try and Europe have been in
volved in major wars. In each
case serious misjudgments were
made on both sides Of the
intentions of others, which
brought great devastation"
In this thermonuclear age,
the President added, any mis-
judgements on either side about
the intention of the other could
rain more devastation in sew
eral hours than has been
wrought in all the wars Of