U.S. HAS PASSED BILL TO BUILD MODERN AIR FORCE

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 May 1948, Page 5

U.S. HAS PASSED BILL TO BUILD MODERN AIR FORCE

Measure Authorises More Than President Asked For

(N.Z.P.A.—Copyright.) Received 6.20 p.m. WASHINGTON, May 6 The Senate, by a. vote of 74 to two, today approved a Bill authorising an expenditure of 323,320,000 dollars on building a 70-group air force. The House had already approved a similar measure, and after a conference to reconcile minor differences, the measure will go to President Tinman for signature.

The President is expected to sign, although he and tlie Secretary of Defence (Mr. Forrastal) want only a 66-group air force.

Mr. Forrcstal argued that the building of such a largo air force would throw the armed services out of balance. The air force announced, immediately alter the Senate vote, that it would begin immediately plans to build 2727 new bombers and jet lighters as a first stage of a new programme. A 70-group force will include 850 bombers, which are an improved version cf the super-fortress, PB4 thunder jets, four-.j»t bombers and four-jet fighters. The first aircraft will be delivered in January and 2100 planes are expected to be ready for service by July 1950. Air Force leaders estimate it will take five years to build a completely modern 70-group force, which will be supported by 27 National Guard air units and ’34 Air Force reserve groups.

Meanwhile, tlie Air Force will modernise the planes it now has. Ninetyfive per cent, of these are last-war types.

SHORTAGE IN U.S. OF PETROL NOT ENOUGH TO WAGE ANOTHER WAR Recd. 6.40 p.m. Washington, May 6 A House sub-committee, in a report on the relationship of petroleum to national defence, today warned, “with deep conviction and concern/’ that the United States does not have enough oil to fight another war. The report said: “If another war conies, we will be short of about 3,000,000 barrels a day.** The report recommended that President Trmuman Immediately appoint a special commission to solve a critical situation, and said the commission should give consideration to the allocation of steel to industry, the rationing of oil, the stock-piling of petroleum for the armed forces, and the exploration of new potential oil lands.