The Key West Citizen Newspaper, May 19, 1953, Page 2

TAFT PREDICTS Ei WILL CALL FOR A HURR INHOWER Y-UP x PROGRAM FOR THE AIR FORCE. PRESIDENT TO . SPEAK TO NATION TONIGHT OVER MAJOR NETWORKS By JACK BELL WASHINGTON @. <Senators _ of both parties criticized proposed Al Force money cuts as dangerous today but Sen. Taft (B-Ohio) said “i 4s for better to have a: 100- Security, budget taxation. the White House, from 9:30 p. m., Eastern Standard Time, and his talk. will be carried by all the major radio networks. ~~ Eisenhower briefs the GOP leg- islative leaders on the - financial Program at a White House meting today, The briefing was likely to cover the same points Eisenhower will make tonight in his first direct broadcast pry sa nation ment last week followed + | statements from Cabinet officials ig defense money cuts in as to the prospects for budget balancing. Several hours after the White @ national radio report tonight on|House session, Secretary of De- THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Tuesday, May 19, 1953 From May 19 Through May 31 fefise: Wilson faces anticipated, stiff ‘senatorial questioning about. arms He ‘was almost certain to be asked, also, about what Rep. W. Stefling Cole (R-NY¥) said wes an administration. decision to whack about’ 30° per cent off the closely related “Htomié ‘energy program. Cole, chairman of the Senate-House -Atomic'Energy Committee, said. ‘the cut would not curtail weapons development, but would slow~up pwork om atemie power for ships, planes and peacetime uses. Even before Wilson's appearance at. a -public.session of a Senate appropriations subcommittee, sev- eral members voiced vigorous .cri- ticism of his action. in lopping five billion, dollars off the total new Air Force money requested of Congress. by. former President Truman. Wilson has said the reduced fuhds will give the Air Foree 114 “gub- stantially well-equipped wings” by June 30, 1954, with’a goal of 120 wings by about mid-1955. Wilson called that an “interim” goal, but indicated there had been no’ deci- sion to shoot for a higher one later. The Truman administration had set-a goal of 143 wings of which 126, would .have heen combat groups. There are now 103 wings, varying in size from 30 to 75 plane : By JOE HALL : WASHINGTON (Chairman |’ ben Pepayen Gen.: Matthew B. to give to-the Eisenhower administration's | foreign aid program. Wiley made the comment in ad- vance of Ridgway's appearance to~ day before’ the Senate committee on the $5,800,000,000 foreign gid bill for fiscal 1954, ‘starting July 1. but ‘not all of them are at combat |™S stren eth. These lowered sights ditin’t please Sen. Young (R-ND), who said in an interview: I don't think we should slow down until we know we have the most powerful air force in. the world.” Sen. Maybank (D-SC). sail: “What's the use of having atomic | 2% bombs if you haven't got the stra- tegie air force to deliver them? Ym going to offer an amendment to keep the goal at 143 wings.” Taft, long an. advocate * a . Ta “big boost” | 80ciation