The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-12
Proposals
 Under Consideration
Ccontinued from Page D

her civilian populations, but "the destruction of shipping.
 The Republican nominee also told the committee that he thought England could win the war and re- establish France, Belgium, Holland and other German-conquered coun- tries without invading the contin- ent.
 If we furnish such effective aid to Britain that keeps these chan nels open, that keeps giving them this equipment, if Britain is able to resist heh invasion, as soon as Britain gets superiority in the air this continental situation will crumple pretty rapidly"
 "The British people are united almost beyond belief" Willkie re- piled. "They are free people. I think millions of them will die before they will give up that island. I think enslaved people won't do that, and when the going gets tough they will force this bunch of rob- bers to give up I don't think enslaved people have the spirit to fight under those circumstances"
 American Naval Strength
 Washington, Feb. 12.-UP)- Wendell L. Willkie's proposal to lend or lease Great Britain five to 10 destroyers a month probably would allay the two ocean" navy program, a recapitulation of American naval strength indicated today.
 The navy now has 159 destroy CTS, old and now, on hand.
 It has 206 in the process of building, Is of which will be de- livered this year and 45 in 1922. The other 146 are still ill the blueprint stage.
 But Willkie indicated that the United States would complete de- stroyers faster than indicated by the above figures which were sup piled by Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox to the House. Willkie told the Senate foreign relations committee yesterday that we should expect steady flow of from 15 to 20 new destroyers per month in 1942."
 Willkie's plan calls for mini mum of 60 or maximum Of 12O destroyers for the British each year or from 100 to 200 by the end of 1942, if the program got undedr wya next month.
 But by the end of 1922 according to Knox's figures, the United States will have only 219 destroyers on hand-the present 159, the 15 to be delivered this year and the 45 to be finished in 1922.
 Naval Officials Silent
 Naval officials have not revealed how fast they expect to luay keels for the rest of the program. De- stroyers now are being completed in a little over nine months from the time the keel is laid down. Con- tracts for all ships in the two ocean" navy program have been let.
 Knox said yesterday that he had mo comment on Willkie's testi- mony. He may, however, comment at a press conference today.
 Associates recalled his statement to the press last January 8, when ne Sdlu.
 T do not think any more destroy CTS can be detached from our fleet without seriously impairing its ef- ficifncy"
 He made the statement after the British had obtained 50 old World war destroyers from the navy in ex- change for land, sea and air bases on British possessions in the Atlan- tic.
 At a subsequent conference Jan. 15 Knox was asked if he would modify his attitude against send- ing more destroyers when large numbers of new ones become avail able under the building program.
 Ut will be long time before that situation has been effected suf- ficiently to do that" he replied.