Show Knox Replies to Byrds Byrd's Attack on Contracts WASHINGTON Aug 28 U Replying to what he called unintelligent unintelligent un intelligent criticism of 01 army and nd navy plane purchasing policies Secretary Knox said Wednesday the navy nary had 1031 combat planes 1489 1459 training planes and 21 miscellaneous miscellaneous mis mir craft under contract but not yet delivered He gave the breakdown to hi his press conference in elaboration of ot the overall picture of oI army and navy plane purchases given by President Roosevelt yesterday when Mr Roosevelt said 1005 planes were under construction Saying the reason for lor the preponderance preponderance pre pre- of 01 training planes was obvious Secretary Knox explained d the navy as well as the army was engaged in preparing men to op up- crate erate the total force of 01 planes which it hopes to have Inthe in inthe inthe the army and navy in 1942 It was In referring to criticism of training plane purchases that he used the phrase unintelligent criticism Senator Byrd D. D Va has stated stated stated stat stat- ed and he was confirmed yesterday by President Roosevelt that only combat planes planes' had been ordered ordered ordered or or- dered by the army and navy in inthe inthe inthe the days since June 1 The senator quoted letters from Secretaries Secretaries Secretaries Sec Sec- Knox and Stimson in makIns making making mak mak- ing Ins that statement Taking the specific period mentioned mentioned mentioned men men- by Byrd Knox said the navy alone had contracted for 1686 1656 planes between June 1 and August August August Au Au- gust 15 Of 01 these planes he said were combat ships 1401 trainers trainers trainers train train- ers and 11 miscellaneous During the June August 1 15 period period period pe pe- he continued 84 navy planes were delivered including 14 combat combat combat com com- bat 68 training and two laneous |