April 25, 1966

Sen Armed Services' subcom sharply challenges McNamara plans to cut bomber forces by 1/3 over next 5 yrs, rept accusing McNamara of dominating mil advisers and scoring 'difficulty in getting precise, factual data' from Defense Dept; demands McNamara halt plans to eliminate by '71 80 remaining B-58s in SAC, only supersonic bombers in operation; agrees to back request for $1.75-billion for 210 F-111 fighter-bombers to replace B-58s and 345 aging B-52s but notes McNamara overruled SAC comdr Ryan's request for 490 F-111s; scores McNamara Jan 25 testimony before subcom in which he saw no clear need for new strategic bomber; includes Gen LeMay Feb 2 testimony favoring mix of bomber and missile forces to afford greater flexibility; Repr Nedzi dissents from rept; sees it chiefly concerned with demonstrating McNamara 'fallability'; Asst Sec Sylvester holds rept distorts McNamara views on bombers

UMW and Bituminous Coal Operators Assn reach accord on 30-mo pact similar to Peabody's

ALBANY, April 24 A compromise bill to reform the state's divorce law is expected to be passed this week by the Legislature.

Gravel emergence from pol retirement linked to rising Negro vote

O'Connor predicts Council will vote home rule messages for Lindsay program 'but only because its hands are tied'; says Council is powerless to weigh business taxes separately; sees support for income tax on both resident and commuter; urges Lindsay reach accord with Rockefeller on Legis support; Lindsay bars predicting outcome; says tax on commuter will be less than on resident because it will apply only to earnings in city; acknowledges pre-election 'no new taxes' pledge and statement that city could not stand income or payroll tax but says taxes are last resort and 'last resort is here'; Procaccino says new stock exch would be started if NYSE left