48 GROUP AIR FORCE FOR U.S.A. HELD TO BE ENOUGH AS YET

Grey River Argus, 6 October 1949, Page 5

48 GROUP AIR FORCE FOR U.S.A. HELD TO BE ENOUGH AS YET

(Rec 7.10) WASHINGTON, Oct 4. The U.S. Secretary for Defence, Mr Johnson, said to-day that a recent atomic explosion in Russia would not require any increase in the United States military spending during this financial year. He told the Senate Appropriations Committee that the Administration was standing on its request for a 48-group Air Force and a total defence budget of 14,000,000/ 000 dollars.

Senators asked Mr Johnson what they were to do about the Defence Appropriation Bill, which is now in the hands of a Joint Senate House Conference Committee.

The House version of the Bill provides for an additional 1,800,000,000 dollars to start building towards a 70-group Air Force. Since President Truman's announcement of the atomic explosion in Russia, a number of Congressmen have urged the Senate to accept a higher House figure, but Mr Johnson said that the United States defence plans were prepared with the thought in mind that Russia soon would have atomic weapons.

Opposing a renewed drive for a 70-group Air Force, Mr Johnson said that 48 groups were adequate to meet all contingencies which could be forseen, at present.