HARD YEARS AHEAD

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1942, Page 6

HARD YEARS AHEAD

WARNING TO AMERICANS

NEW YORK, February 16. The Mayor of New York (Mr. F. 11. La Guardia), addressing 350 engineers and architects representing cities throughout the united States, .said the construction of air-raid shelters was impracticable. "You cannot put ceilings over cities to protect thorn, although cities at the loot of a mountain might be able to dig shelters without too great expense.” , . . .. , Mr. La Guardia' emphasised that 1942 and 1943 were going to be hard years. “We are not accustomed to disaster or hardship,” he said. “Not until 1944 shall we begin to see the beginning of die victorious end. We are going into a new world, a world of technicians. Let us have actions, not words. Technicians must replace committees ol estimable persons.”

MR. NASH’S IMPRESSIONS

WASHINGTON, February 16

Mr. Nash told Press representatives: “No man I have met knows more about the needs of the Southern Pacific than President Roosevelt. As a result of my talk with him, 1 am satisfied that whatever it is physically possible for him to do to enable the Southern Pacific area to be cared for in this crisis, he will do.” HUGE APPROPRIATIONS. (Rec. 1.52 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 17. The House Appropriations Committee has approved the Appropriations Bill, the largest in history, of 32.000,000,0'00 dollars, chiefly for war supplies, arms, ordnance, shipbuilding, and lend-lease. The Bill includes 5430 millions for additional lendlease. bringing the total to 17 billions. Admiral. Laud said that the- tanker progi’amrne would give the United States the best and biggest heel throughout the world by the end of 1943. He added that Nazi submarines were making a direct set at tankers. There were more tankers than cargoboats operating, therefore more tankers were torpedoed.

G ERM AN “MASTER - MIND. ”

(Rec. 12.15 p.m. WASHINGTON, February 17. The trial has opened of George Sylvester Viereck, who is alleged to be the master-mind of Germain propsgancia in the United States. Viereck is accused of making false statements to the Stale Department, when registering as a foreign agent. The Government alleges that Viereck received 40.000 dollars yearly, for propaganda activities. F. 8.1. RAID JAPANESE

SACRAMENTO, February 16. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation carried out sweeping raids on Japanese establishments and seized truck loads of contraband, including Japanese army and navy uniforms, important secret documents, and empty aerial bomb casings. Thirteen Japanese nationals were arrested. WELDERS RESUME WORK. (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) SEATTLE. Feb. 17. The strike of 1180 welders at the Tacoma shipyard has. been called off. After a meeting last night, the strikers decided to resume full work to-day. COLUMNISTS’ STORY. AUSTRALIAN MINISTER’S DENIAL

NEW YORK, February 16. The columnists, Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen, in their nationally syndicated column, “Washington Merry-go-round,” to-night describe a meeting in Washington between. Mr. Churchill and the Australian Minister to the United States (Mr. R. G. Casey), said to have taken place during Mr. Churchill’s recent visit, in which the defence of Singapore was discussed. The columnists allege that Mr. Casey told Mr. Churchill point-blank that Singapore must be defended, and gave a warning that otherwise Australian troons would be withdrawn from the Near East. Mr. Casey,, it is alleged, further suggested that if London deserted the Australians by not defending Singapore, Australia could withdraw from the war and make a separate peace with Germany. Mr. Churchill yielded to this threat, the columnists say, and sent reinforcements, which arrived too late.

They predict that this incident will bring about closer ties between Australia and the United States. Mr. Casey has authorised the Australian Associated Press to say that these allegations are entirely without foundation.