Battle Of The Atlantic AMERICAN FACTOR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 17 October 1941, Page 2

Battle Of The Atlantic AMERICAN FACTOR

The German U-boat commander who, on September 4, discharged a torpedo at tl*- United States destroyer Greer did the cause of Hiller in reaiiect of the Battle of the Atlantic a great disservice, a week later President Roosevelt announced that "from now on, if German or Italian warship* enter waters the protection of which is necessary to American defence, they will do en at their own peril. In tt»e>e waters American warships and planes will not wait for the Axis raider* to strike first. I have ordered the navy fo carry out that policy Immediately.” Last week the President sent a message to Congress asking for the repeal of "various crippling provisions” of the Neutrality Act. While tl«e attack on the Greer cannot be regarded as an isolated incident, the torpedo which missed its mark has brought about unfortunate repercussions for Germany. America On The Seas The Greer incident, like the sinking of the Robin Moor and other American-owned merchant ships, wa* part and parcel of Germany’s campaign at s«*a. The Germans long ago gave notice that they would attack any ship entering their "zone of operations.” The United States cannot aud will not yield to that threat. As tlie "New York Time*” pointed out last month "to permit German submarines to close the North Atlantic sea lanes would be to nullify the whole purpose of the Lease-Lend Act, on which Congress has put the seal of American approval. It would cut tl*e English-speaking world in two. It would isolate Britain from the •arsenal of democracy’ and lead inevitably to Nazi victory,” Discussing what further action needed to be taken to defend on the high seas "our rights as a sovereign nation,” the "New York Times" said that clearly the first step should la? lo clear away self-imposed restriction* on these very rights which now play into the hands of the hostile Power whose desperate gamble for world domination threatens United States security. "There are provisions of the outworn aud discredited Neutrality Act, still on the statute books, which are worth as much to Hitler as a thousand submarines. These prohibitions forbid the arming of American merchant ships, even for their own defence. They forbid American ships to curry any ‘articles or materials’ of any kind to any belligerent nation-—even though our whole foreign policy is now based, by formal act of Congress, on a recognition of the crucial fact that the continued resistance of one belligerent, Britain, is of supreme importance to our own security. By these ! self-denying ordinances we have enormously facilitated, and we are still continuing to facilitate. Germany’* effort to isolate Britain —an effort which, if successful, would at one# place the United States in deadly danger.” A Crippling Act In his message to Congress President Roosevelt said the repeal or modification of the crippling provisions of tb* Neutrality Act would not leave tb* United States "any Jess neutral,” aud did not call for a declaration of war ••any more than the Lease-Lend Act did.” It was essential to the proper defence of the United States that they should cease giving the definite assistance they were now giving the aggressors. "In effect we are inviting their control of the seas by keeping our skips out of the ports of our friends. It is time for this country to stop playing into Hitler’s hands aud to unshackle our own.” In effect, the United States has lung since ceased to be neutral, and the Neutrality Act as it stands is an anachronism. In September. 1940. an ' agreement was completed with Great Britain for the exchange of r*o destroyers for eight important naval and air bases in the western Atlantic. lu March. 1941. Congress passed the Lease-Lend Act and an nppropriatioh i ( ,f 7,(KKMJMO.OOO dollars to implement • its provisions. This Act realistically ! provided for material aid "for the Government of any country whose de--1 fence the President deems vital to the 1 defence of The United States." United States Patrols President Roosevelt, who long ago admitted that the American people had ceased to be neutral in thought, said the whole programme of aid for the j democracies had been "based on hardbeaded concern for our own security 1 and for the kind of safe and civilized ; world in which we wish to live.” I The President’s announcement that I warships and aircraft have been given orders to "strike first" at any Axi® raider in the American defence zone comes very close to a declaration of war. When he declared iu May a state of unlimited national emergency to exist, Mr. Roosevelt said the l nited States had extended the scope of its patrols in North and South Atlantic I waters "to warn of the presence of attacking raiders ou the seas, under and ! hlk)vc.” Those patrols now have orders { to shoot at sight. One of the provisions of the lieaselA'iid Act that has been of immense ! value to Great Britain is that permitting British and Allied warships to carry out repairs and refits in United States naval dockyards. This concession has been largely availed of during the last six months to the great relief of pressure on British dockyards which : are fully occupied. | Ship Production United States shipyards will turn 1 ! out about 134 merchant ships this year.. or 2o per cent, more than was estimati ed as possible in May. The chairman <.f the Maritime Commission said tb®i country might look for a total produc-| tion <*f 1153 new ships, totalling about, 1-2.410,000 deadweight tons between ,luly, 1041, and the end of 1043. Ninety! vessels of 1,000,000 tons would be do-] I livered in the lirst quarter of 1942; 142 ships of 1,400.000 deadweight tons in] the second three months of 1042; 154 vessels of 1,046.000 deadweight tons In, the tliird quarter and vessels ofj dose to 2.000.000 deadweight tons in the fourth quarter. In the first quarter of 1943. 220 ships aggregating 2,270,000 deadweight tons would b« placed In operation. in recent months British operation®! in the Atlantic, assisted by the Au»-| i erican patrols, have brought, about « vast diminution in merchant shipping losses. The repeal of the "crlppllnß : provisions" of the Neutrality A<%| I coupled with Americas vast ships building programme will surely be deJ cisive factors ir. the liattle of the Art lnntic.— (S.U.W.I.