More, Please

Not only the pressure of politics, but the pressure of world events, hastened the rout of economy in Congress. Defense Secretary Louis Johnson asked Congress to add $350 million more to the $14,260,000,000 military budget.

Johnson, who less than a month ago had loftily pooh-poohed Dwight Eisenhower's advice that the nation should spend more for national defense, had now found that U.S. armaments were indeed inadequate in the light of "recent events." (Among the recent events he listed were the fall of China and the Russian bomb, which Louis Johnson might have taken into account months ago, since everybody else did.)

Of the $350 million he asked for, the Air Force would get $200 million to buy new jet bombers and all-weather fighters, build up to 48-group strength. The Navy would get $100 million for new jet fighter-bombers and airborne radar equipment, another $50 million to modernize its submarine and anti-submarine craft. The House Appropriations Committee gave its approval.

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