Concentrating On Atlantic At Expense Of Others

Northern Advocate, 22 May 1941, Page 5

Concentrating On Atlantic At Expense Of Others

WASHINGTON, May 21

Well-informed sources indicated yesterday, according to the United Press, that Britain is concentrating her sea power in the north Atlantic at the expense of other seas, thus explaining the relative safety of American supplies shipped to Britain. The same source said Britain was far from content about the security of the seas in general, although the situation in the north Atlantic was much improved. Congress has approved the two farreaching shipping bills as part of the “bridge of ships to Britain” programme.

Legislation Passed The Senate approved the bill authorising the acquisiton of 59 new naval auxiliary vessels at a cost of 300,000,000 dollars. The House of Representatives passed the bill giving the Government broad powers to regulate the use of the United States merchant ships, virtually making them part of the 2,000,000 tons shipping pool to aid Britain.

The Maritime Commission has requested newspapers, press services, radio anod other sources of public information to effect a voluntary censorship of news on the movements of United States ships aiding the democracies.

May Be Oil Rations

Fresident Roosevelt, in a message to Congress, urged the enactment quickly of legislation to facilitate the construction of oil pipe lines for national defence, saying that this was of first rank importance to industry, the population and military bases on the Atlantic coast.

To depend entirely oh coastal tankers was a process potentially perilous, making restriction of oil consumption to essential uses a distinct possibility within the next few months.

The President has also advised Congress that he would reduce the 1942 relief appropriation request from 995,000,000 dollars to 886,000,000 dollars.