US. NEUTRALITY PATROL

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23318, 2 May 1941, Page 9

US. NEUTRALITY PATROL

AH Ships in Atlantic ' Fleet Engaged TORPEDO-BOATS FOR BRITAIN (Received May 1, 7 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON. April 30. The Secretary of the United States Navy (Colonel Frank Knox) said in Washington to-day that the whole of the United States Atlantic Fleet was now engaged in the neutrality patrol. Colonel Knox also said that the United States intended' to. build substantial numbers of high-speed motor-torpedo-boats for Britain. He emphasised, though, that larger warships were not available for transfer. He added that the United States Naval Reserve, which has been inactive, will be mobilised next month, involving 5000 officers and men. The United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday quashed by 13 votes to 10 a proposal by which the escort of munitions and supplies to Britain would have been prohibited. German officials in Berlin to-day declared: “It is all the same to us whether Mr Roosevelt recognises our blockade zone round Britain, for whoever enters it will be torpedoed, regardless of his flag.” PREPARATIONS IN MALAYA “ DEFENCES STRONGER EYERY DAY” BRITISH COMMANDER CONFIDENT SINGAPORE, April 30. Declaring in an interview that the defences of Malaya are growing stronger every day, the British Com-mander-in-chief In the Far East (Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert BropkePopham) added: “An enemy attempting to attack would be in for a very sticky time. In fact, the resistance would be such that a tremendous force would be necessary to secure a footing at all. “Malaya and Singapore are prepared for the possibility of interrupted communications. If an enemy succeeded

in isolating Malaya, then we would live on accumulated resources, for which full provlsioh has been made,” The Netherlands East Indies would certainly fight if attacked, and he was confident that its army, navy, and air force would put up a fine show. Sir Robert B.’ooke-Popham said that to pass by Singapore and invade Australia was hardly a practicable proposition. ■ EXPORTS FROM AUSTRALIA LOSS OF TRADE WITH BRITAIN SUBSIDIES FOR PRIMARY PRODUCERS (Received May 2, 12.15 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 1, Federal subsidies for primary producers as a result of the loss of export trade to Britain are expected to impose an additional £17,000,000' on the next Budget. ■ Mr A. W. Fadden, the Federal Treasurer and Acting-Prime Minister, indicated" that the subsidies will apply to the following commodities:— Wheaf, to an estimated amount of £ 10,000,000; butter. £ 5,000,000; meat, £1,000,000; sugar £500,000j other items, £500,000. FREE FRENCH OFFICER IN SYDNEY VISITS TO PACIFIC ISLANDS (Received May 2, 12.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 1. Commandant Gustav Jardin, commander of the Free French forces in the Pacific, has arrived in Sydney after a' four months’ tour of the French Camefoons. He is on his way to Noumea to. take command and consolidate all the Free French fighting men in the Pacific islands. In an interview, he said he believed that between 80 and 90 per cent, of the French people in occupied and unoccupied France are silently behind General de Gaulle, and are sympathetic to the British cause. Commandant Jardin has been singled out for “special mention” in the blanket death sentence imposed by Yichy on the Free French forces. AIR RAIDS ON MALTA LONDON, May 1. A large formation of Junkers and Messerschmittg attacked Malta on Tuesday night. One Junkers was destroyed. Civilian property was heavily damaged, particularly in an important business thoroughfare. Eight civilians were killed and 19 seriously injured. It was Malta’s heaviest raid. ' ' ' ' I ' Air Training Corps.—Membership of the Air Training Corps already totals nearly 200,000, with nearly 15,000 local and schodl units throughout Britain. Among the heavily-raided cities; Where the response to the - call for recruits has been particularly prompt, Bristol and the Bath area have five squadrons, and Plymouth five.—Rugb^