U.S. ARMED FORCES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27038, 13 May 1953, Page 9

U.S. ARMED FORCES

Cuts Proposed In Strength (NX. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 pjn.) WASHINGTON, May 11. The United States Secretary of Defence (Mr Charles Wilson) disclosed plans today to cut the monthly military call-ups by 50 per cent, and to reduce the projected strength of the United States armed forces by at least 290,000 men. He also told the House of Representatives Military Appropriations Subcommittee that the size of the Air Force provided for in Mr Truman’s Budget had been reduced by 19 wings. Mr Wilson said that manpower cuts would be made in non-combat units. He also expressed the hope that civilian defence employment would be reduced in 1954. Mr Wilson’s plans caU for the following cuts in present strength of the services: Army—64,ooo to a total of 1,421,000. Navy-65,000 to a total of 745,000. Marine Corps—ls,ooo to a total of 230,000. Air Force—ls,ooo to a total of 960,000. Mr Wilson said the Air Force would expand to 114 wings by June 30, 1954, instead of the 133 wings called for by Mr Truman. The over-all uniformed strength of the military services would be reduced to 3,356,000 by the same date and another 56,000 would be cut if the war ended in Korea. The Truman Budget aimed at a military strength of 3,647,000. Mr Wilson also said it would be two or three years before the United States Budget could be balanced. A balance could not be achieved before then without serious reductions in the defence programme. Reaction in. Congress Democratic Congressmen said the planned savings would slice into the “bone and sinew” of the defence programme. But the Republican leaders insisted that the Administration would economise by concentrating on more modern weapons production. The United Press correspondent said the debate over the military budget threatens to become the stormiest controversy in this session of Congress. President Eisenhower started the controversy when he cut actual defence spending for the fiscal year of 1954 2,300,000,000 dollars below the Truman proposal and pared the Democratic Administration’s request for 41,500,000,000 dollars in the new appropriations by 5,244,000,000 dollars.