OUT TO HELP ENGLAND

Evening Star, Issue 23863, 18 April 1941, Page 5

OUT TO HELP ENGLAND

AMERICAN AID PLANS COLONEL KNOX'S DISCLOSURES WASHINGTON, April 16. The Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Knox, indicated in Washington to-day that the navy planned to convoy forces sent to Greenland. He also disclosed that the transfer to the navy of jjart of the coastguard was under discussion. He said that damaged British warships brought to the United States for repairs were given pirority over everything else in the navy’s shipbuilding yards. Colonel Knox said: “ In future we hope to persuade the British not to bring warships into our harbours in broad daylight, and’ not permit sailors to go ashore with the names of their vessels inscribed on their hat bands. We want to conceal a ship’s name, how badly it is damaged, and how long it will be here.

“ Wo are out to help England, and for God’s sake let ns help her.” Colonel Knox announced that the navy was preparing to send one officer and 35 marines.to London to guard the American Embassy. The Washington correspondent of the ‘ Daily News ’ quotes unnamed senators as saying that United States warships and coastguard vessels are giving armed escort to munition-laden British merchantmen leaving Atlantic ports for the European battlefrout. They said that Mr Roosevelt was permitting the coastguard to accompany ships from Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York to a point where they are picked up by the navy neutrality patrol, and thence escorted to a rendezvous arranged with the British Admiralty. The senators said that the matter would be raised in the Senate on Friday.