European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 16, 1969, Darmstadt, Hesse Vietnam War costs reduced Washington a president Johnson asked con Gress wednesday to spend$81.5 billion for defense in the coming fiscal year slightly reducing Vietnam costs but warning of the need to counter a wide Range of potential military spending proposals for the 1970 fiscal year topped those of the current year by $500 million despite a Cut of $3.4 billion inthe Cost of supporting 639,000 fighting men in Southeast alone accounts for nearly one third of the propose military spending but the accent in Johnson s final defens budget is on beefing up the fighting Power of forces else where in the world and on developing new weapons an equipment. He urged the increased de sense spending the largest in any year since world War ii to continue the military Momen Tum achieved during the last eight changing patterns the president attributed reduction in Vietnam spending to changing combat patterns an revised Supply Large scale operations have been reduced and the bombing of North Vietnam has been halted. But his proposal to finance a additional 5,000 men by june 30, 1970, in the Southeast asian area including Thailand the cont. On Page 6, col. 1 budget surplus billion for defense surtax Extension is recommended state of the Union president Johnson outlines his final budget for the 1970 fiscal year and addresses the nation on its problems and Progress. Associated press photo so unofficial newspaper of . Fort i in Europe North Africa and the Middle East vol. 27, no. 271 thursday january 16, 1969 if 21855 a 5t daily 10 sunday Washington a president Johnson submitted Farewell $195.3-billion spending budget wednesday with a $3.4-billion surplus achieved through a proposal to extend the 10 per cent income surtax until june 30, 1970. He used his final budget message to Congress to extol the achievements of his administration and to recommend new government benefits for millions of most striking new propos Al was for legislation to increase social Security benefits an aver age of 13 per cent with higher payroll levies to pay for them. Impressive record declaring that the record of his five years in the White House is an impressive one Johnson said we have witnessed a period of unprecedented economic growth with expanded production rising standards of living and the lowest rates of unemployment in a decade and a military forces today Are the strongest in the world capable of protecting the nation against any foreseeable Chal Lenge or threat. Last month saw Man s first successful flight to the Moon. In Domestic matters the Legisla Tive and executive branches cooperatively have forged new tools to open wider the doors of Opportunity for a better life Fornall the president said there had been a record breaking period of Prosperity for the last eight years covering his administration and that of John f. had brought he said an increase of 31 per cent in reaper capita spendable income cont. On Page 5, col. 1 nostalgic Johnson bows out Washington a president Johnson paid a formal and sentimental fare Well to the Congress and the nation tuesday night As he delivered his final state of the Union message. Johnson outlined what rethought were the accomplish ments of his administration and text of message pages 12-13. The continuing problems which face any president. Johnson said regretfully that it has not been possible to re store peace to Vietnam but that the prospects for peace Are better today than at any Tim since North Vietnam began its cont. On Page 6, col. I 25 killed in disaster on Enterprise Pearl Harbor up the nuclear Carrier Enterprise scarred by a fiery sea disaster that caused 127 casualties Lay berthed and heavily damaged picture on Page 3 wednesday near the hulls of ship sunk in the attack that forced the United states into world War ii. The vessel s skipper l. Lee said he did not know Tho cause of the mishap that occurred tuesday while the Crew was launching heavily armed planes in a Ore Vietnam bombing practice Navy said wednesday 25 men were killed 17 were missing and 85 injured. Identities were withheld while families were be ing notified. The 80,000-ton Enterprise re turned to Pearl Harbor showing the scars of the tragedy which one shipyard worker said put Itin the worst condition he had seen any ship since world War fire started at the Onset of the practice at sea 75 Miles South East of Here a big Ball of flame exploded underneath one of the airplay Ejust As we were preparing to launch said Boatswain s mate2.c. Jerry Dennard 31. Fifteen planes were ship and its Crew of 5,400 were preparing for their fourth tour of duty off heard an explosion then there was a big Ball of flame said flight deck chief Larry up Church 35. After that 1 Don know much. We kept fighting the cont on t Coj. L soviet space linkup expected today Moscow up two soviet spaceships chased each other around the world wednesday night less than five Miles apart. Space experts believe Tucey will attempt a rendezvous i thursday. The russians lofted soyuz 5with three men aboard wednes Day from the Bai Konur space Cen Ter in Central Aisa. Its almost perfect launching took it into an orbit less than five Miles from soyuz 4, launched tuesday with one cosmonaut . Col. Vladimir Shatalow on soyuz 4 radioed soyuz 5 As it Rose from the launching pad ill meet you soon in later he reported he could see Iio Yuz 5 was no indication that ships attempted a close a front. Of pure col u
