AMERICAN CONVOYS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 111, 13 May 1941, Page 8

AMERICAN CONVOYS

"When the American destroyers took over the convoying in 1917* the situation of Great Britain was strikingly similar to what it is to-day. Merchant ships were being sunk faster than they could be replaced, and the narrow seas were literally strewn with wreckage. Although England was threatened with starvation, a sufficient force could not safely be detached from the Grand Fleet to meet adequately this new menace. England's crying need is for naval reinforcement to safeguard food and supplies in transit across the Atlantic. I question if even the need for aircraft is more pressing or will have a greater bearing upon the outcome of the war. An impression prevails that the convoy system which American naval forces so successfully instituted in 191,-18 had for its sole purpose the ferrying of troops to France. For one" troopship which we escorted to France we took, I suppose. 20 or 30 merchantmen into British ports. One great food convoy of 40 ships arrived in the nick of time to save England from starvation. From a coldblooded professional standpoint of naval strategy the argument is all in favour of our caking over this job as we did in 1917. It would be perhaps the greatest service we could render to Britain, and we have the means available and on hand."—Mr. J. !■ . Rowland, a former U.S. naval officer, in the "New York HeraldTribune."