U.S. Military Building Cut

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30940, 22 December 1965, Page 13

U.S. Military Building Cut

(N.Z. Pr«M Assn.—Copyright) Dec 21 WASHINGTON, The United States Defence Secretary, Mr McNamara, announced yesterday the indefinite postponement of 620 million dollars in military construction,' including barracks and housing. The action was taken as an economy measure aimed at

eliminating all possible spending not directly related to the war in Vietnam.

Mr McNamara told a pressconference the department was eliminating everything possible “without eating into the muscle of United States military power." The 620 million dollar deferment represents almost half the 1306 million dollars earmarked in this year’s Budget for military construction, Reuter reported. Mr McNamara said he did not believe the postponement of family housing construction, amounting to about S5OO units, would have any effect on either enlistments or reenlistments. ,Everything possible would be eliminated from the Budget in view of the rapidly spiralling costs of the Vietnam war. he said. Last week, Mr McNamara announced the dosing or reduction of 149 military bases in the United States and overseas aa an economy measure.

Weapons Not Affected Mr McNamara said 85 to 90 par cent of the deferred construction was in the United States. Nene of it affected weapons. L

The postponement covered troop barracks, modernisation of training schools, additions to hospitals and family housing. He described these projects as “long-planned replacements or improvements for existing facilities.” They could be undertaken later without harm to military operations, he said.