Evening star., 1940-08-28
Citing Plane Orders,
Knox Hits Criticism
OF Policies
Reveals Navy Contracts
For 1886 Planes Between
June ! and Aug. IS

Secretary of the Navy Knox re-
piled today to what he called "unin-
telligent criticism" of warplane pur-
chasing policies with a breakdown
of naval plane orders in elaboration
of President Roosevelt's statement
yesterday that 1o,015 planes were
under construction.
The Navy has 1,O31 combat planes.
l,409 training planes and Il miScel-
laneouS craft under contract but
not yet delivered, Secretary Knox
told his press conference He said
it was obvious that predonderance
of training planes was needed now,
pointing out that the Navy, as well
as the Army, was preparing men to
operate the $4,000 planes sought for
the two services by 1912. 1t was in
this connection that he used the
phrase 'unintelligent criticism-,e-
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia, has criticized the defense pro-
gram as tagging" in its procure
ment of planes, among other war
materiel, asserting that only 343
combat planes had been ordered by
the Army and Navy in the 100 days
since June /.
1885 Planes Ordered.
Secretary Knox said today, how
ever, that the Navy alone had con-
tracted for 1886 planes between
June l and August Is. Of these
planes, he said, 243 were combat
ships. 1,401 trainers and II miscel-
laneous.
During this period, Secretary Knox
added, 84 planes had been delivered
to the Navy They included IA COM
bat, 68 training and miscellaneous
ships.
Mr.. Knox said contracts let dur
ing the siX-week period amounted
to s20,614,7S2. They called for 81
planes, to be paid for out of 1910
appropriations, and the remainder
from the 1941 fund.
The Secretary also reported that
the shipbuilding program was we'll
ahead of schedule, particularly in
the destroyer and submarine classes.
He said 10 submarines now being
built we're from 11z to 81a months
ahead of schedule Half of these
are being constructed at Navy Yards
and the remainder by the Electric
Boat Co. He reported that seven
destroyers were from one-haf to
three months ahead of schedule, one
of which was commissioned Angus.
6, two months ahead of time. Mr..
Knox also said the tenders Curtiss
and Albemarle are ahead of
schedule.
In reviewing the general Navy pre-
paredness program, Mr.. Knox said
the building program considerably
had been speeded up through a
longer work week. He said gratify-
ing results had been gained from
the six-day, three-shift speed-up
program. He said the intensified
activity had increased naval employ
ment in shipyards by more than so
per cent.
Senator Byrd today repeated his
charge that the whole defense effort
was tagging, countering the Presi-
dents statement with a demand
that IAN accurate picture of the
situation be placed before the pub
Ec."
Says Accuracy Confirmed.
Senator Byrd also asserted that
Mr.. Roosevelt, in reporting on the
status of aircraft purchases yester-
day, had confirmed "the complete
accuracy of my statement that only
343 combat planes have been ordered
by the Army, Navy and marines
combined, in the last 100 days"
The Chief Executive did tell his
press conference yesterday that SEN
ator Byrd was correct in his state
ment on the number of combat craft
ordered during the period in ques-
ton. but said the implications the
Virginian drew were dead wrong.
Commission Figures Cited.
Mr.. Roosevelt reported that Ma
tional Defense Commission figures
showed that contracts had been
placed for 6,361 planes. Moreover,
1854 were being built under letters
of intention" pending the signing
of formal contracts.
Saying that detectives were being
met in excellent shape, Mr.. Roose-
welt remarked that more planes
could not be ordered until Congress
voted the s5,O0S 900 900 defense ap-
preparation bill now awaiting Senate
action.
This measure. he said, would pro-
vide funds for the larger part Of the
aircraft program. Delay in Its pas