OVER 100 SHIPS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 107, 8 May 1941, Page 7

OVER 100 SHIPS

FOREIGN VESSELS

Legislation For Taking Over By America l.niteil I'ross Association.—Copyright. Rec. 11 a.m. WASHINGTON, May 7. The House of Representatives to-day passed and sent to the Senate legislation empowering President Roosevelt to take over upwards of 100 foreign merchant ships. It was revealed to-day that the Justice Department is investigating complaints that information concerning shipments to Britain is being disclosed to the Axis via relations of some American insurance companies with the Swiss cartel, by means of reports required by insurance companies and reinsurance data sent to Swiss companies. It is alleged that this method is also used to reveal the dates of sailings and the routes of supply vessels proceeding to Britain. The House of Representatives' Naval Affairs Committee authorised the construction of 11 major naval' lighter than aircrart and bases, as well as an undisclosed number of auxiliary facilities, costing 58,000,000 dollars. Informed circles say that rapid reinforcement of the Royal Air Force for all-out bombing of Germany is the objective of President Roosevejt's emergency order to speed up production of long-range bombers, the eventual goal of which is reported to be 500 a month. The Maritime Commission has ordered that 27 Italian ships which were seized after sabotage by their crews are to be repaired. In the House of Representatives, an effort by the isolationists to prevent the transfer to Britain of Axis ships seized in American ports was defeated by 161 votes to 131. Miss Ddrothy Thompson, the wellknown columnist, stated at a dinner given in her honour last night that President Roosevelt was now faced with the greatest decision any man might have to make. Perhaps only a few weeks, only a few days, or only a few hours remained before that decision would be made.