"Bridge of Ships to Britain"

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 120, 22 May 1941, Page 7

"Bridge of Ships to Britain"

Congress Approves Two Important Bills ROOSEVELT WANTS PIPELINE ACROSS CONTINENT United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 10.20 p.m. . WASHINGTON, May 21. Congress has approved of two farreaching .shipping Bills as part of the 44 bridge of ships to Britain” programme. The Senate approved of a Bill authorising the acquisition of 59 new naval auxiliaries at a cost of 300,000,000 dollars. The House passed a Bill giving the Government broad powers to regulate the use of United States merchantmen, virtually making them part of the two million-ton shipping pool to aid Britain. President Roosevelt sent a message to Congress urging the enactment quickly of legislation to facilitate the construction of oil pipe lines for national defence, saying: 44 This is of ilriist rank fence, saying: “This is of first rank and military ’ bases on the Atlantic coast. To depend entirely on coastal tankers is a process potentially perilous, making the restriction of oil consumption to essential uses a distinct possibility within a few months.” The Maritime Commission has requested newspapers, press services, the radio and other sources of public information to effect a voluntary censorship of news of the movements of United States ships aiding the democracies. President Roosevelt advised Congress that he would reduce his 1942 relief appropriation request from 995 million dollars to 880 millions. The shipbuilding strike at Lorain has been settled, enabling the resumption of work on the ten million dollars’ worth of defence orders.