Air Force chief says lid on pay could hit recruiting

Air Force Chief of Staff Charles Gabriel complained Thursday that President Reagan did not consult his top military advisers before deciding to back a freeze on military pay and may have hurt recruitment efforts.

The proposed freeze, which will now be taken up by Congress, is aimed at reducing a record-high projected federal budget deficit that could top $200 billion. General Gabriel said the military Joint Chiefs of Staff would have been willing to forgo some major weapons systems rather than the pay cut.