VITAL TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 88, 15 April 1941, Page 7

VITAL TEST.

BATTLE OF ATLANTIC.

Transport Convoy Becomes

First Essential

Official Wireless.

RUGBY, April 14

I lie Sunday newspapers stress the importance of the Battle of the Athuil if, tho vital character of which is fully realised, in spite of the anxiety with which news from the lia.lkans front is awaited.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the vital part. t lie I'nited States and ( anada nnift play in the all-important campaign is emplia-Ued in the newspapers. and the "\cw York Times" says: "The te-t of strength in the battle ot t ran~ptirta t i<>u is fully as important as in t lie battle <if production."* This appears to lie typical of considered newspaper opinion.

Commenting on United States aid, the Loudon "Sunday Times" says: "But the greatest help tiie United States can for the moment give us is that of her shipyards. It is much less satisfactory to replace sunken tonnage than to save it from being sunk. Yet under present conditions—and particularly so long as wo are debarred from using the ports and aerodromes of Eire—enormous replacements are needed. There the vast building resources of the United States can make a vital contribution."'

While fully realising the importance of convoy escorts, to which it points as a direct method of dealing with the transport problem, the "Sunday Times" examiner; the more indirect method of sending chips by less dangerous routes than over the U-boat area, and states:

"Now that the Red Sea and Indian Ocean are cleared of Italian bases, it is possible for our -oiitliern Dominions to send cargoes to Egypt safely.

' President Roosevelt, by his proclamation last. Friday, authorised United State* shipping to use the Red Sea. Types of tanks or fighter aeroplanes manufactured in America could be carried to Suez in American ships. Only for the short voyage from Alexandria to Greeee would British shipping become requisite."