The Pentagon Portfolio

Since that first brave boast of "Millions for defense, but not a cent for tribute," Americans have forked over uncounted billions for their military establishment. Though most of the money has gone up--rather literally--in smoke, a handsome residue remains. Last week a Defense Department accounting of its assets as of mid-1966 showed that it was worth $183.6 billion, a $7.3 billion increase over the 1965 total.

Most--$125.4 billion--of the Penta gon's portfolio is in expendable equipment and supplies, from aircraft carriers and guided missiles to ballpoint pens and jungle boots. However, a sizable sum ($38.4 billion) represents huge property holdings at home and abroad. Including everything from local reserve-unit armories to missile-testing grounds, Defense controls 27,606,219 acres in the United States. It has its biggest holdings in California (4,335,068 acres), its smallest in the District of Columbia (1,672). Its worldwide holdings cover more than the combined areas of Rhode Island, Delaware, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maryland.

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