Montpellier, Feb. 13, El Caudillo will be the guest here Marshal Petain at an intimate US. Destroyers Said Available Washington, Feb, 13.
Mr, Wendell L. Willkie, Republican Party leader who has just rolurried from Britain, In a telephonic state~ ment from New York, indicated yesterday that President' Roosevelt be. Heved the United States immediately could furnish additional destroyers to Britain.
"Twas surprised to read Knox' statement," Mr. Willkie said. (Col Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, told newspapermen he was "against depleting the United States Navy any further" by making additional warships available to the British Fleet)
"Information given to me by high authorities inthe Government after my testimony yesterday (Tuesday) confirmed my views that we are in Aid Bill Passed by Senate Committee Washington, Feb. 13, The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has passed the "Aid for Britain" Bill by 15 votes to 8, The Bill will now go to the Senate—Reuter. position without any injury to our Navy or national defence to give Britain immediate effective assistance by furnishing additional destroyers."
Reporters, who followed Mr. Willkie, noted "that the only "high Government authority" with whom conferred after the testimony was President. Roosevelt himself—United Press, Knox Opposes Transfer Washington, Feb. 13, Col, Fraink Knox, Secretary of the Navy, told newspapermen yesterday he was "against depleting the United States Navy any further" by making additional warships available to the British Fleet, Col, Knox' said the United States at present. possessed 159. destroyers, with 18 others due for delivery this Year and 45 during 1942.
The United States cannot, spare destroyers "if we want a balanced feet," Col, Knox said, and added that Britain had not made any requests for United States warships, The Secretary said the Nav meanwhile was "using every means and facility to expedite" consteuetion fafa two-ocean navy.
Ahead of Schedule Construction work on all warships, including battleships, was 30 to. 60 Gays ahead of sehedule—the, 35,000- ton battleship North Carolina will be commissioned in April and its sister ship, the USS, Washington probably wilt be ready in July, both ahead of Schedule, Col. Knox stated, He said the Navy had received the frst "I0-month destroyer during January, eight months ahead of Aircraft production was improving, he said, totalling between 900, and 1000 in January, compared to 790 In December. The Secretary stated that manufacturers wore recovering from retarding effects of construction of huge new plants, Col. Knox said that the former Commander-in-Chief of the United States Navy, Rear-Admiral_ James Richardson, was coming to Washing. ton on March 15 fora conference regarding a new assignment—United Press.
Washington, Feb, 12, Substantial reinforcements for the newly-created Atlantic Fleet may be expected if British scapower shows Important deteriorations, informed naval circles indicated yesterday.
Naval authorities meanwhile prlvately expressed satisfaction at Britain's position present at regard fo naval and air successes at Genoa and Ostend og evidence of the ality of the Royal Navy and Alr Foree—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.