U.S.A. LINER'S VOYAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 August 1940, Page 8

U.S.A. LINER'S VOYAGE

■ 1 REPLY TO NAZI WARNING [BY CABLE. PRESS ASSN. COPYRIGHT.] WASHINGTON, August 19. The Germans have again warned the United' States that they will take no responsibility for the safety of the United States liner American Legion, which is now on her way home from Finland with 897 refugees on board. The Official German News Agency states: “The United States has defied the German warning and has ordered the troop transport American Legion, bound for America, to take a route passing through dangerous areas round Britain. Germany, therefore, will not be responsible for any consequences.” Yesterday morning the German radio said that the voyage was wanton and carried out in spite of Germany’s warning. Last night the announcer said that it was criminal folly. The United States in a terselyworded Note has formally notified Germany that she “expects” that the American Legion “will suffer no molestation” from German armed forces. The Note to Germany detailed the negotiations between the two Governments concerning the ship’s voyage and added, “the United States is of the opinion therefore that the German Government has received sufficient advance notice of the sailing of the ship from Petsamo on the date scheduled and of the course to be followed to take every precaution against an attack on the vessel by German combat forces.”

Observers regard the language of the Note as diplomatically strong, leaving no doubt that Germany will be strictly accountable should the ship be harmed from military operations. A State Department spokesman emphasised that Germany did not mention in her communications to America anything concerning mines. The only dangers mentioned were those that could result from German air operations, yet the Berlin Press had published reports concerning the mining of waters adjacent to the British. Isles. The German Embassy in Washington in a statement said that the German Government had issued a Press communique laying further emphasis on the danger of mines threatening the vessel on its contemplated course. GERMAN ALLEGATION (Recd. August 20, 10.45 a.m.). LONDON, August 19. The American Legion is reported to be steaming through the Arctic Ocean, five hundred miles from Petsamo. The Berlin radio, last night, referred to “the criminal folly of the' voyage,” and added that the _ United States was providing Churchill with a splendid opportunity for another torpedo, similar to those which sank the Athenia and the Helle.