FREEDOM OF THE SEAS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 126, 30 April 1941, Page 8

FREEDOM OF THE SEAS

PROTECTING AMERICAN SHIPS. SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT. (Rec. 2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 29 The Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral Stark) to-day addressed the convention of the Chamber of Commerce, saying that the naval construction programme was running well ahead of schedule. no significantly - asserted that the United States would share its resources to the limits of

security. This statement immediately raised ” speculation as to whether the transfer of naval vessels to Britain might be imminent. Admiral Stark said that the navy “is charged with the responsibility to make sure that vour ships ‘roll down to Rio’ and back with no enemy molesting them but winter and rough weather; that your tankers bring Texas gasoline up to serve New Jersey filling stations undisturbed; that your freighters put out and return from Sydney and Singapore, from Batavia and Manila and Hong Kong, with unbroaclied cargoes; and, finally, that the American nations proceed on their legitimate affairs to the end of the earth and back.” In an extemporaneous addition to his prepared address, Admiral Stark said: “I wish 1 could talk about convoys T would like to tell you about our patrols 3000 miles out. from the high latitudes to the Antarctic, in boUr oceans.” Asked to explain this afterwards, lie said that perhaps 2000 miles was a better approximation, but a lew weeks ago the patrol line had been moved substantially eastward.