Evening star., 1941-02-12
No Destroyers
Can Be Spared,
Knox Asserts
More Ships to British
Would Cripple U. S.,
Secretary Says
BY FRED H. MORHART, Jr.

Secretary of the Navy Knox to-
day declared this country cannot
spare any more Gestroyers for the
aid of Great Britain.
Il have expressed myself very Wig
orously before" he remarked when
asked his views on Wendell L. Will
kie's testimony before the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee yes
terday
Mr.. Knox pointed out this country
is seeking a balanced fleet and that
the transmission of deStroyers tc
Great Britain would disorganiZe the
composition of the American force.
When asked pointedly whether
we had destroyers available to give
Great Britain, he answered: 1--WE
certainly have not
British Have Not Asked.
When asked whether the Navy
was in position to expedite aid to
Great Britain he said: Il will not
comment on our aid to Great Brit
ain. l have no request pending from
Great Britain at present for any
part of our fleet"
However, Mr.. Knox added. This
country is using every method al
our command to develop our fleet
The Navy Secretary declared the
administration is searching the
country for shipyard facilities
Through orders from the Navy and
the British all shipyards in opera
tlon today are at full capacity
There was speculation that the
Government would appropriate
funds for new shipyards.
AS an indication of this Nations
drive toward full armament. Mr.
Knox declared that all DESTROYER.
now building are from 30 days to
months ahead of schedule.
All Concerned Cooperate.
He explained that the speedup pro-
gram had been developed through
several ways of cooperation. Pri-
vate shipyards have joined in the
Standardization of fabrication meth.
DDS, as we'll as in drawing in labor
from far points. Mr.. Knox sale
that in seeking competent employees
not only navy yards but private
shipbuilding organizations had gone
far afield.
During the last war a record O.
nine months was set for the con
struction of four stack destroy er
day destroyerS are young cruisers,
and building takes a longer time
However. the destroyer Edison wa!
delivered in 10 months, eight month.
below the usual delivery date.
The Navy Secretary declared h,
was getting full cooperation from
the Office of Production Manage
ment and the Labor Department il
providing skilled mechanics for Nav,
construction. He said Sidney Hill
man and ISador Lubin, a labor ex
pert had been called in for confer
ences on the problem of speeding
ship production The matter wa
discussed by crafts and trades, MI
Knox said.
Yard Here Triples Output.
Secretary Knox mentioned TIT
Washington Navy Yard, where pro
duction has been tripled. The yart
here, though not fabricating ships
is devoted to the production of pre-
else instruments and armament.
When asked about aircraft pro
duction for the Navy. Mr.. Knox said
I'VE are over the hump" He thel
added that production in his mine
was satisfactory.
AS an illustration, he mentioned
an undiscloSed plant which previ.
ously had a S4,000,000 contract fol
the production of Navy airplanes
That corporation now has. accord.
ing to Mr.. Knox, s400, 100000 in con.
tracts on order.
Mr. Knox expressed optimism or
Navy receipts of aircraft for tn,
augmentation of the fleet.
I'VE now are getting planes fast.
er than ever before" he stated.
L. S. S. Washington Due in July.
1t was disclosed that the $4,000
ton battleship North Carolina vii
go into commission April IL and he
sister ship Washington next July
However, Mr.. Knox declined II
state to which of the three fleet!
they would be assigned Recently
there has been mention that thes,
two first line fighters would be as
signed to the Pacific fleet.
Mr.. Knox stated the Navy defenSt
housing program was going aheac
on schedule. However, he revealed
that the cost of construction in thi:
city averaged more than $500 6
unit more than any other estab.
lishment. He explained this by say.
ing that Washington construction
is on an elevated market and there.
fore costs are up"
However, he said the Navy i.
going ahead with it's construction
program here at the Naval Air Sta.
ton, where more than $50 dwellings
(See KNOX, Page A-5)