U.S. PATROLS IN WAR ZONES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23317, 1 May 1941, Page 7

U.S. PATROLS IN WAR ZONES

Statement By Mr ;7' V ; Roosevelt NAVAL chief speaks OF EXTENSION I (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received May 1, 12.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 29. . Mr Roosevelt to-day told his press conference that American naval vessels could enter the combat zones }f necessary In defence of the western hemisphere. He said he did not recognise any German combat zone extending round the British Isles. The United States Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral H. R. Stark) said to-day that the United States naval patrol is already operating as far as 2000 : miles out into the Atlantic, In an address to the Chamber of Commerce convention, Admiral Stark said that the naval construction programme is running well ahead of schedule, and he significantly asserted that the United States will share her resources to the limits of security. This statement Immediately raised speculation as to whether transfers of naval vessels to Britain may be imminent. Admiral Stark said: “The Navy is charged with the ' mponaiblllty to make sure that your ships roll down to Hio and back with no enemy molesting them but ; winter and rough weather, that your tankers bring gasoline up to serve New Jersey filling stations - undisturbed, that your freighters put out and return from Sydney and Singapore, front Batavia and Manila And Hong Kong with unbroached cargoes, and, finally, that American nations proceed on their legitimate affairs to the end of the earth and back, no man making them stop.” In an extemporaneous addition to his prepared address, Admiral Stark said: “I wish I could talk about . cpnws. I would like to tell you about our patrols 3000 hu& out, from high latitudes to the Antarctic, in both oceans,” * Asked to explain this afterwards, Admiral Stark laid that perhaps 2000 miles was a better approximation, but a few weeks ago the patrol Hue had been : proved substantially eastward,

.TbrWBW York Times,” in a- twocolugm leading- article, declares: “The United States ig already locked in mortal combat with Germany. Thereforrjt is. most dangerous to follow a policy, ot drifting and hesitating. "The defence of America means strong leadership from Washington and’ wffljpgness to fprgq methods of JnMchon and veiled innuendo in favour plhold statement of the plain facts. teffChe defence of America also means mnrm insistence that strikes and lockmi? in defence industries will no linger be tolerated- It means ancour|*ament to American aviators now i Tedy to fly our own aeroplanes in-the Min of Britain. It’ means the avoidof the mistake of doing too little toorlats. "Jhere is no escape ip isolationism, Wigan either surrender 6r do qur part in Raiding the line. If we decide in femur of the American tradition for

United State? ships was made Jn the Berlin newspaper, '‘Deutsche Allgemelne Zeitung.” It stated that Mr Roosevelt's plans would have one result, the quick and ‘certain sinking of American ships, because on aU routes between America and England lurked the German blockade. It was time every American realised what fate awaited their armament production and shipping when Mr Roosevelt’s plans matured. The Tokyo newspaper "Kokumin” declared to-day that thb United States decision to expand her patrol to Atlantic. water?, in the western hemisphere means that the United States is only a step from entering the war. The “Times-Advertlser,’' in a lead? controlled 'by the Japanese Foreign Office, earned a headline, “War Worry Causes General Price Drop,’ 1 over a story which said: “Concern is felt on the market that the United States is bracing herself to take a catastrophic plunge Into the European war, and this has caused a wholesale fall in stocks.” It shduld be noted that the “Times-Advertifcer’s” comment on the New York stock market Is inaccurate. Since the Balkan defeat the general tendency has been for prices to move irregularly upwards. The “Times-Advertiser,”in a leading article, stated; “The possibility of peace terms rests upon the United States, hence the United States holds the power of decision. responsibility rests upon Mr Roosevelt's shoulders in this critical hour.” The usually temperate Tokyo newspaper “Asahi” described the United States as going h ea dl°ng into war, and slated: “The grim determination of Mr Roosevelt to take the offensive against the Axis Powers means letting loose American patrols on all the seas of the world for convoying United States transport? carrying war materials to Britain.”

Tlie American magazine “Fortune” reported to-day that American business executives overwhelmingly approve Mr Roosevelt's policy and Mr Wefldell Willkie’s endorsement of it and they disapprove of the opposition voiced by Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh apd Senator B. K. Wheeler. This poll of executive opinion, which included almost all the top men in business management, showed that 84 per cent, believed that a German vie-, tory should be prevented at almost any cost, and 90 per cent, felt that the armament programme must be pressed vigorously forward. Almost half of those who voted favoured the development of the defence programme at the expense of business as usual, and 58 per cent, disapproved of the stand of Colonel Lindbergh and Senator Wheeler- . Preparations are being made in large American towns for the provision of gir raid shelters. Plans have been circulated to local authorities who have been urged to give them close attention. The plans include designs for large surface shelters and smaller shelters for use by families.

Jte pjegervatlon of all we hold dear, »haU take our places in the ! i hn*!:»nß play our part In defence of ? freedom," , ~*ls?. , 'non«lntervention ,, Jnemtaers cf UMWt havp pledged their “unalter- !!{% Reposition" to American convoys. “X riWwever name they may be Jfw and they have voted to peti‘‘os tW Senate Foreign Relations Com- , ™«*e-tp approve a resolution forbidC}n|, convoys when 'the committee beon April 30 - JTO."R«d fleet," the official orgah M |h% Soviet Navy, interprets the exr Of, the American neutrality ERjpft as giving considerable help to "IWin,. in addition to the assistance !? S J already receiving in the Atwould, stated the paper, wcflitate the blockade qf the Euro. *’ e ri? n d African continents. A %eat that Germany would sink