The Pittsburgh Press (June 29, 1947)
War in next year possible, Eisenhower tells senators
Chief of staff calls American Army ‘a poor second’ to Russia’s
WASHINGTON, June 28 (UP) – Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower said today that war is “possible” in the next 12 months.
This country’s thinly-spread Army is a “poor second to Russia’s,” the Army chief of staff added.
Gen. Eisenhower said the War Department does not believe war “probable” in the near future. But Army planners do not “entirely exclude such a possibility.”
The Army leader went before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee to urge restoration of House-approved cuts in the War Department’s appropriations for the fiscal year starting Tuesday.
He particularly sought an extra $103 million for the Army Air Forces, which would bring to $543 million the total which the Air Forces hope to spend for new planes in the next 12 months. This sum would buy 932 new aircraft instead of the 792 provided by the House.
Gen. Eisenhower’s estimate of comparative U.S.-Soviet strength and his thoughts on war were expressed in a formal statement made public after his appearance before the subcommittee.
He said U.S. armed strength is second only to Russia’s but added, “However it is a poor second.”
He emphasized that in saying war was possible in the next fiscal year he did not mean that he believed it was at all likely. In a recent press conference he said he doubted there would be a war in the foreseeable future.
But the Army, he added, has to be prepared for any eventuality.
The U.S. Army is spread “thin” around the world and is made up of young and inexperienced men, he said, adding:
“As a result of this weakness and sparseness of our forces, the U.S. Army has a lessened influence toward deterring aggression. The General said world affairs develop in the shadow of military power.”
The House has granted the Army $5,280,982,423, as compared with President Truman’s budget estimate of $5,716,719,500.
This cut, Gen. Eisenhower said, was “excessively risky” in view of world conditions. He called it “gambling” with national security.