Allied Victory Rests Upon Shipbuilding

Northern Advocate, 9 March 1942, Page 3

Allied Victory Rests Upon Shipbuilding

[British Official Wireless]

RUGBY. March 8

The “Daily Telegraph" points out how the need for shipping is illustrated by the heroic stand which the Allies are having to make in Java, outnumbered on land and in the air. "The series of grave disasters Jn the Far East can only be checked by great quantities of tonnage.” it says. There might have been many more modern aeroplanes in Malaya and Java if we had the ships to convey them. It is on ship building that our promise of victory must rest. "At the beginning of the year." the "Daily Telegraph" adds, "President Roosevelt directed that American production should be raised from 1,100,000 tons dead weight in 1941. to 8.000.000 tons in 1943. It is now reported that progress is more than fulfilling the programme. If such a rate is maintained the merchant navies of the United Nations should in no very long time be able to bring much greater forces to bear at decisive points.

"Sea transport is the primary need. Japan's absolute dependence upon it is obvious. Already she has lost much. Her communications are long and strained, and her shipyards are insignificant compared with those of the United Nations. Germany and Italy have paid a high price at sea for their adventure. We shall overcome them when, with Arnerican aid, we have built up a merchant fleet to meet our world-wide needs.” U.S. Programme WASHINGTON, March 8 The chairman of the War Production Board (Mr. Donald W. Nelson), in a statement to the Press, refuted rumours that the U.S. shipbuilding programme had been reduced. He added that on the contrary, not only ■ the scheduled 8,000,000 tons of shipping will be built in 1942, but even an expansion of that figure is expected. The rumours originated when Mr. Harrison told a press conference last iweek that' a shortage of steel plate might hamper shipbuidling.