U.S. to RETRENCH

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1947, Page 5

U.S. to RETRENCH

Republicans Get Busy

The first Step in a retrenchment policy has been taken by the U.S. Republican Party with a move for a huge cut m e Budget.

(Rec. 11.40) WASHINGTON, Feb. 21. With the Republican majority in full control, the House of Representatives, by 239 votes to 159 votes, has approved of six thousand million dollars of a cut in President ,Truman’s 37,52'8 million dollars budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. It is expected that the Senate will endorse the reduction, which, the Republicans say, will make possible a 20 per cent, cut in the income tax.

(Rec .8.10) NEW YORK, Feb. 20 The proposed further cut of one thousand ’million dollars from the military budget would mean a reduction in effective strength of two hundred thousand soldiers —one-fifth

of the Army—which would leave the Army too weak to carry out the duties assigned to it, said the Secretary for War, Mr Patterson, addressing a soldier audience. He said: An army on a blueprint is a poor asset for security”. He asserted that if the United States disarmed while nations overseas maintained their strength, America would be asking for World War Three, because this was a woi d where power counts. Mr Patterson said the War Deoartment already had pared its budget' costs wherever possible and he called for universal military training and an adequate ai probation for the War Department.