U.S.A. WAR MEASURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 July 1941, Page 5

U.S.A. WAR MEASURE

CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS MR. ROOSEVELT’S. DEMAND WASHINGTON, July 11. Mr. Roosevelt called to-day for a United States programme of builoing merchant ships so fast that it is, hoped to exceed the present rate of sinkings. The appropriation provides for the construction of 566 ships at a cost oi 1,247,000,000 dollars. The Maritime Commission’s goal will be the speedy construction of 1270 ships, all oi which are vitally needed to help to win the battle of the Atlantic. A proposal for the expenditure oi funds for the building of 800,000 tons, of shipping in the United States has been placed before the United States Maritime Commission. It was stated that the appropriation was needed because the schedule of production had been so speeded up that the money was required now instead of next January. Other proposals include the arming of merchant ships by the United States and the conversion of a number of merchant vessels to naval uses. Rear-Admiral S. M. Robinson, Chief of the United States Navy Bureau of Ships, told the Naval Committee of the Senate that as much as 50 per cent, of the existing naval yard repair facilities would be devoted to the repair of British warships when the programme, for which 1,625,000,000 dol lars is required, has gained full momentum. , . , , . A new type of explosive, details of winch have not been revealed, has been developed by the United States Navy. New Plant to cost 70,000,000 dollars will be erected to manufacture the needs of the army, navy, and Brita Mr. Roosevelt asked Congress today for 3,323,000,000 dollars lor the Navy and the Maritime Commission, making a two-day total of -8,09a,000,000 dollars for defence purposes. Mr. Roosevelt, at a Press conference, said that the new appropriations would in part be used for a great many new ships, and explained that botn appropriations that had been requested were necessary because the defence and shipbuilding programmes were ahead of schedule and also because the schedule of production had been stepped up. Questioned whether the supplementary appropriations would mean further increased taxes, Mr. Roosevelt said he supposed the answer was: “You have a tax bill every year. Tax bills are based on the year’s operations and not on supplementary estimates coming later.” DESTROYER AND SUBMARINE.

WASHINGTON, July 12. A Congressman informed the United Press of America that the Umted States Secretary for the Navy (Colonel Knox) told the Naval Committee that an American destroyer on Atlantic patrol had dropped a depthcharge some time ago, merely as a warning to an approaching subThe patrol vessel was picking up survivors from a British ship, when it heard a submarine through the detectors. The vigrations ceased a lew minutes after the charge had been dropped. The destroyer feared that the submarine would release a toiPe Coionel Knox assured the committee that a depth-charge was ineffective beyond 100 feet, and that the submarine was further away than that. _ “SECURITY AT STAKE.” LONDON, July 12. A broadcast statement by Mr. Raymond Gram Swing, the well-known American commentator, who is now in England, that “°V r + seC Ylm^ c h in 1 stake, and we are out to establish in dustrial equipment which will piovide a surplus of tanks aeroplanes, and guns ” finds full endoisement in Britain. “Notning that can happen m Eastern Europe, said Mi . Swmg, “can interrupt the job. The debates in Congress are over, . have been made and contracts let. Ihe programme is outside the realm of ie consideration.” SEIZURE OF AXIS SHIPS. LONDON, July 11. The British Government has waived its belligerent rights to the seizure p.< German and Italian ships interned in the United States. . A message from Washington states that, in view of the uses to which 28 German and Italian ships will be put by the United States the British Embassy has announced that the British Government approves of the steps being taken in America to prepare the interned ships for sea an ..d gracefully recognises the services of the United States to the democracies. Accordingly the British Government, has waived its rights to the seizure of the ships of its enemies.

BUILDING BASES IN ULSTER. WASHINGTON, July 12. The United States Secretary for the Navy (Colonel Knox) is reported to have told the Naval Committee ■ that American firms are building bases m northern Ireland and Scotland, but are building them for the British at But ish expense, and that they aie not intended for the use oi American tl0 An S ’ assertion that hundreds of American workmen have been constructing a naval base m Noythein Ireland for weeks was made m the Senate by Senator J. A. Danaher, who said that Mr. Roosevelt and the Administration were withholding facts. Senator R. A. Taft said he had heard weeks ago that such a base was being constructed, and Adnnnisti ation officials would ■ neither confirm nor deny the truth of the statements. When Mr. Roosevelt was asked at a Press conference about Senator B. K Wheeler’s assertion that cargoes ol materials for American bases had already been sent to Northern Ireland and Scotland, and that construction was already proceeding, he replied that whatever was being done was being accomplished either through straight purchases by the British Government or under the Lease-Lend Act He added: “I would not be surprised if American steel has gone into 50 British bases from Canada to South Africa and God knows where, qnd it American workers all over the world are being paid by the British Government.” , J J . . - It is authoritatively stated in London that any American technicians and labourers employed on works in Northern Ireland are direct employees of the British Government. They have exercised their legal right io accept such occupation, which is open to any American citizen wishing to aid the British cause. PORTUGUESE ISLANDS. WASHINGTON, July 13. Dr. Joao Antonio de Bianchi. Portuguese Minister in the United States, said that the Portuguese Government had received definite assurances from the United States Government that it had no intention of moving against the Azores, the Cape Verde, or any other possessions of Portugal. MOTORWORKS LABOUR NEW _ YORK, July 12. The “Journal of Commerce” states: “In order to avert labour dislocation, the curtailment of automobile construction in the United States is not likely to reach 50 per cent, until the workers can be absorbed defence production. Therefore, it is possible that the cut. will not exceed 40 per

cent. Otherwise, 280 thousand automobile workers would be throwm out of employment.