MORE AID FOR BRITAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1940, Page 7

MORE AID FOR BRITAIN

ENTHUSIASM IN U.S.A. 500 ’PLANES EVERY MONTH [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.} NEW YORK, September 19. > More and more prominent Amerir cans are joining the movement urg- > ing the supply of all possible material I aid to Britain in her defence of world ! democracy. At a big mass meeting in ■ the Chicago Stadium last night, RearAdmiral William H. Standley, who was Chief of Naval Operations from > 1933 to 1937, advocated the immediate transfer to Britain of all the naval craft which were not essential for the defence of the United States. Rear-Admiral Standley said it should be possible for the United States to send numbers of small torpedo-boats to Britain. These would be particularly 'Useful to Britain because Germany- had acquired a great number of- submarine bases along the Channel coast. Miss Dorothy Thompson (Mrs. Sinclair Lewis), the well-known newspaper commentator, who recently returned from a European tour, said that America should send Britain immediately torpedo-boats and “flyingfortress” bombers. Senator Josh Lee (Oklahoma), who was a pilot in the American forces in France during the last war, made a personal appeal to Mr. Roosevelt in a radio broadcast. He urged the President to provide Britain with “every ship, 'gun, and aeroplane that we can supply.” He mentioned particularly “flying fortresses” and fighter aeroplanes. Official figures have been released showing that the United States is nowdelivering aeroplanes to Britain at the rate of 500 a month. The rate o e f supply is expected to reach 1000 a month by February, 1941. It will continue at that rate until April, 1942, when the rate will be reduced to 550 a month. By that time it is estimated • that Britain will have received 14,000 aeroplanes. State Department officials say that Britain is now getting 80 per cent, of the nation’s output of aircraft.

PILOTS FOR CANADIAN A.F.

(Recd. Sept. 20, 12.45 p.m.) OTTAWA, September 19. The Ail- Minister (Mr Power) announced that the Canadaian Air Force, by October 1, will consist of 26,500 officers and men, including several hundred trained pilots from the United States. He added that American pilots were enlisting at the rate of nearly 200 per month. NEW YORK’S PRECAUTIONS. (Recd. September 20, 12.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 19. The Mayor (Mr La Guardia) announced New York City authorities have surveyed' the buildings, in view of a possible aerial bombardment, and now know in which places the city is vulnerable, and where to send the inhabitants for safety. The authorities have also devised means of transporting troops through New York to New England, which is the region most likely to be used by an invader. NEW YORK PRESS CHANGE. NEW YORK, September 19. The traditionally democratic “New York Times,” which supported Mr Roosevelt in the Presidential campaigns of 1932 and 1936, in an editorial announced that it was supporting the Republican candidate (Mr Wendell Willkie) because he was more able to carry out the defence programme and stimulate economic and industrial activity. A third term for Mr Roosevelt would mean shattering the democratic tradition. “The Times” added that Mr Willkie and Mr Roosevelt were both aware of the United States’s danger, and both desired to help Britain. (