PROTECTION AGAINST AIR ATTACK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 9 December 1940, Page 5

PROTECTION AGAINST AIR ATTACK

AMERICAN NAVAL VESSELS ALTERATIONS NEEDED [U P.A.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyrt*ht] WASHINGTON, 7th December, The Secretary of the Navy, Colonel I Knox, has asked Congress to authorise 300,000,000 dollars’ worth of alterations to naval vessels to afford greater protection against air attacks. He emphasised that the type and nature of the protective work must be secret. I The National Defence Commission revealed that new fighting ships were being commissioned for the navy at the rate of one every 22 days. It was stated that acceleration of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean programme reduced the 40-month period normally needed to complete cruisers to 35 months'in some instances. Submarine construction had been reduced from 30 to 24 months, while destroyers were being launched three months ahead of schedule. Meanwhile additional naval shipyards were under construction. The navy spokesman declined to comment on a report that Colonel William Donovan is going to Europe by clipper on a confidential mission for the Government. Colonel Donovan recently returned from a confidential mission to England. At present it is reported that Colonel Donovan is going to the Near East unofficially to inspect the British forces, and alternatively to visit General Weygand. The Secretary of State, Mr Hull, confirmed that he is negotiating with Spain for a 100,000,000-dollar loan, but emphasised that no agreement had yet been reached. Private observers understand that the credits would be used to finance large-scale Spanish imports of food and raw materials provided Spain is willing not to re-export to Germany and Italy.