SECRET FORCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 172, 23 July 1941, Page 7

SECRET FORCE

COMBAT SABOTEURS U.S. Senate Acts To Protect Naval Establishments United Press Association. —Copyright. Rec. 1 p.m. WASHINGTON, July 22. The Senate has approved legislation authorising the navy to establish a secret force for protection against saboteurs. Senator Walsh, chairmin of the Senate Naval Committee, told the Senate to-day that sabotage had caused a number of fires and industrial accidents in naval establishments during the last 12 months. Ho said that the navy lacked exact knowledge of the number of Communists and Nazis working in navy yards, but the Communist organ, the "Daily Worker,'' published Brooklyn Navy Yard editions. Senator Walsh urged support for a measure to establish a civilian protective guard for naval establishments. He said it would be disastrous if one of the U.S. battleships was blown up by sabotage. Although Senator Walsh quoted from naval reports that were marked "confidential," the Senate galleries were filled at the time of reading. The grave warning, in Mr. Roosevelt's appeal for the extension of army service is expected to resolve Congressional doubts and ensure the endorsement of the Administration's recommendation. An early vote is expected in the Senate. While the President was extfemelv careful to avoid any inference that the.increased term of service was aimed to fit American forces for expeditionary purposes, he did not hesitate to indicate that the present emergency was such that every eventuality must be included. The Federal Communications Commission postponed from Julv 30 to September 16 the effective date of the chain radio ruling, wherebv the National Broadcasting Commission has been ordered to dispose of one of its networks.