Show Military Bigwigs Battle Baffle APROPOS A A PROPOS THE CURRENT CURRENT ROW LA between the air forces and the navy army-navy it is interesting to recall that in 1940 1040 the army asked congress for Cor only six Flying FI ing Fortresses This was one year after war broke in Europe yet the arm army still didn't see seethe the he need of planes I And Aid had it not been for tor Congressman Congress man Ross floss Collins of Mississippi who demanded more planes the army would have been worse prepared than it was Today President Truman Truman Truman-an an ex- ex artilleryman is is siding with Secretary Secretary Secretary Secre Secre- tary Forrestal's navy and ground forces Corces while congress congress congress-as congress congress-as as ii in iI 1940 1940 is siding with the air force Backstage battling between Forrestal Forrestal Forrestal For- For restal and Air Secretary Symington has been even more vitriolic than most people realize Here Is part of the repartee during a locked door loc session of the senate armed services committee between the air secretary and the man who is supposed to be his boss SYMINGTON Tho The air force for three years has bas said It needed the group 70 program In peacetime and it has never deviated because of the strategic aspect of the 70 groups We asked this year what we asked for Cor In 1947 19 and 1948 1048 FORRESTAL You Yo You have to ex ex- exercise exercise some judgment between ex ex- There is a middle ground for judgment which as I say I have hare to rely on the joint chiefs of staff to furnish me rue with and they are going Joing to have e a 1 very hard wrestling match to do it In addition to the 70 regular groups the air force is asking for 27 groups for air national guard 34 groups for air reserve 22 squadrons squadrons squad squad- rons for such activities as reconnaissance reconnaissance recon recon- air ah- weather and air ah- communications com corn The increase from 55 to o 70 groups will mean a corresponding correspond- correspond ing ng Ing increase from to men by the end of 1949 If It the group 70 program is approved approved ap ap- proved the air force plans on adding 1512 airplanes in fiscal year 1949 The big increase would be in bomber strength Under the group 55 program program pro pro- gram the air force would be limited to o bombers under the group 70 program this would be Increased to 20 bombers That is roughly a 50 per cent increase increase in in- crease rease in our striking force Gen Touhy Spaatz told the senators The plane we would like to continue con- con to build added Symington the B is a modification of He pointed out that the first B 29 tad had a bomb load of 2000 pounds whereas the present bomb load Is pounds The original range was vas miles the present range ranges Is s miles and the expected range ranges is s miles However the B 29 already has been flown more than statute miles mUes with pounds pound of f bombs Symington disclosed Air Force Maneuvers IN MANEUVERS OVER GREAT BRITAIN the air force has demonstrated demon- demon strafed its ability to slip a bombing m mission I s s I Ion 0 fl of B 29 through the equivalent of Russia's defenses Lt Gen Curtis Lc Le May 1 air force chief In Europe arranged with the Royal Air Force to sen send a mock in- in mission against Britain's tight and radar net act Because of long experience during the war the British net Is supposed to be bethe bethe bethe the most efficient In the world However the B not only broke through to their target but most of them never were detected Secret of the American success was vas altitude The big Forts flew in int n nat at t ceiling of feet As a 8 result of the maneuvers air force torce orce strategists are ore convinced that the ic iron curtain around the Soviet could never stop a high flying mission mis mis- sion ion of B especially since Rusia's Rusias Russia's Rus Rus- sias sia's defenses are stretched o out oit t over thousands of miles compared to the relatively small area orca defended by Britain Note The Note The joint British American maneuvers were pulled off oU by Genral General Gen eral ral Le May without orders from Washington S MacArthurs MacArthur's Triumphal Tour G E ENE N E R II A A. L MacARTHURS MacARTHUR'S BOOSTERS are Ire trying to find Lind a way to o revive their heros hero's battered larity Despite the drubbing MacArthur Mac Mac- Arthur received in California WIsconsin Wis and Nebraska Congressman A. A L. L Miller Uler of Nebraska says MacArthur did not quit at Bataan and nd he is still a very live candidate now I am amazed that anyone should hould count the general out Next move being urged by MacArthur's MacArthurs MacArthurs MacArthur's MacArthurs MacArthur's Mac- Mac Arthurs Arthur's friends is his immediate return to the United States for a heros hero's ovation If MacArthur l flies flics niesto to California and makes a 3 triumphal trio tri cross-country cross rear plat form train trip to Washington ton wits with witha a 1 speech to a joint session of congress congress con con- gress they claim his political appeal appeal appeal ap ap- ap- ap peal would be revived Other public observers rs believe might wind up with as many boos as cheers on such a tour In 11 addition it would just about ruin ais ls s work as commander of occupied pied led Japan 4 |