FORCES: Fat or Muscle?

Defense Secretary Louis Johnson's big budget-pruning shears were clipping the U.S. Navy where it hurt—in the wings. Aiming at a cut of nearly $1 billion in the current budgets of the three armed services, Johnson had ordered the Navy to lop off $353 million as its share and let the admirals decide where to do the trimming. Last week the Navy was obediently dismantling 21% of its air arm to meet the new ceiling. Twenty-eight Navy and seven Marine combat squadrons were being withdrawn from service; operations were being reduced at six air bases.

If it had been given time...