AMERICA AND THE WAR

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23295, 3 April 1941, Page 7

AMERICA AND THE WAR

EARLY PARTICIPATION FORECAST ARTICLES IN NEW YORK NEWSPAPER (Received April 2, 9 p.m.) ' (U.P.A.) NEW YORK, April 1. Mr Raymond Clapper, the “New York World-Telegram’s” noted column* ist, to-day writes: “It is probable that. Mr Roosevelt was foreshadowing some* thing more than “lend and lease” powers when he told the country or the need for courage and more courage, action, and more action. “It is the belief among almost all informed persons here that the convoying of goods to' Britain will be undertaken soon. This is a step that will require courage on the part of the Administration, because it means a risk of active hostilities, to which a considerable section of public opinion is still opposed.” The columnist, Mr Philip Simms, in the same newspaper, said to-day that it was believed that a showdown was near, probably within ,60 days. Mr Simms expressed the opinion that the United States will be in the war by June or thereabouts. “Almost everyone is convinced," he wrote, “that if we deliver the goods to Britain then we must use our navy and air force for convoy purposes, whereupon the shooting would start automatically,” Italian consular officials, newspaper men. and Government experts have been ordered by Rome to prepare to .leave the United States at a moment’s notice, according to a copyright report to the “New York Post.” Directions to prepare to leave were relayed to Italian subjects at four meetings held recently, at New York, Detroit, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Italian consular officials and attaches were ordered to prepare to depart at a moment’s notice to South America.

They were also instructed to discharge all but Italian citizens from the consulates and agencies, liquidate all assets, destroy all papers, and cut all expenses to a minimum. Italy maintains 61 consulates in the United States.

REVOLT PLANNED IN ITALY

An American Report

NEW YORK, April 1. An American who has just returned from Italy said to-day that Signor Mussolini had averted a revolution recently by sending Cabinet Ministers to the front. Marshal Badoglio, the former Chief of Italian General Stan, was to have led the revolt which the Ministers were supporting. . Signor Mussolini learned of theit plan just in time to thwart them. Americans state that the Italians are growing more resentful of German troops in Italy. The hostility is most in evidence among Italian soldiers. The Italians felt sorry for Signor Mussolini rather than hating him.

GERMAN BOMBER OVER ATLANTIC

REPORT FROM DUTCH FREIGHTER NEW YORK, April 1. The Dutch freighter Bloomersdick, which has arrived at New York front Liverpool, reported that a huge engined German bomber, equipped with silencers, is flying daily over tn* North Atlantic. ' The Bloomersdick reported that on March 13 a bomb struck an eastboundj freighter, laden with munitions. The freighter buist Into flames in five minutes with the apparent lossl of all hands. I