Evening star., 1940-10-09
Full Mdnpower
For Fleet 10 Be
Sped TO Hawaii
4,200 Being Added;
Knox Doubts War
With japan in IS Days

Secretary of the Navy Knox said
be brought up to full personnel
strength Immediately by the addition
of 1900 men who will sail for Hawaii
with the warships now undergoing
overhauling on the West Coast.
AS President Roosevelt and State
Department advisors combed all Far
Eastern news carefully and this Gov
ernment speeded application of what
now seems to be policy of CON-
plete firmness on behalf of the Pacific
status quo. Secretary Knox told his
press conference he did not concur
in prediction that the administra-
ton feared war with Japan in IS
days.
Il don't think anybody knows" he
added.
The personnel additions will raise
crews of the warships from IS to 100
per cent of their theoretical strength,
Mr.. Knox declared.
Removal of Americans.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State
Hull said today at his press confer
ence that the question of transport
ing Americans from the Far East
would await survey by our diplo-
matte and consular officers in that
area to determine how many Amer
leans want to leave and where they
are located.
With that information in the
hands of the State Department, Mr..
Hull said, the matter of transporta-
ton will be given all possible at
tention
The Secretary was asked if the
administration had given any
thought to asking our Ambassador
to Japan. Joseph c. Grew, to return
to Washington for consultation. Mr..
Hull said he had not heard the
matter discussed in recent months.
Mr.. Knox also announced today the
letting of s96 ,96l ,l46 in contracts for
construction of additional ship
building and ordnance facilities
Most of these contracts are for ship
ways machine tools and other items
needed to facilitate the program. he
said. The Government will retain
title on the materials.
30 Divisions to Be Called.
Mr.. Knox said 80 local defense
divisions of the Organized Naval Re-
serve would be called as soon as pos
sible Divisions of the Fleet Re-
serve will be mustered into service
as fast as ships are made available.
He said Reserve aviation groups
would be called as needed.
Excluding coastal defense boats.
Mr.. Knox revealed the Navy has
purchased 70 auxiliary ships. The
entire program calls for SO new units
of the feet train. He said the Navy
would secure the remaining 81 ves-
sells as soon as possible.
The cabinet officer declined to re-
veal the contents Of his conversa-
tions with Admiral James o. Rich
ardson, commander in chief of the
United States Fleet. who came here
Monday from the West Coast to re-
port to his superior.
Mr.. Knox said he went over the
general Pacific situation, but de-
clined to mention specific points.
Comments on japanese Stand.
However, he did comment on
press dispatch concerning Japa-
nese statement that the reopening Of
the Burma road was only an Incl
dent.
Il thought that was significant, p"
he said. He refused to expand on
this statement.
A business survey to determine
personnel needs of the Navy Depart
ment is under way, the Secretary re-
vealed. He said the department
needs more personnel for efficient
conduct of business and added that
it is seeking additional quarters to
handle the overflow of workers
which now congest present building
space.
The personnel section of the de-
partment reported that since the
end of June 1.148 employees have been
added. AS of June 80 there were
(See FAR EAST, Page AID