NO RESTRICTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24106, 27 October 1941, Page 8

NO RESTRICTIONS

AMERICAN SHIPPING SENATE COMMITTEE FATI-REACIIINC, VOTE (Reed. 8.55 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to amend the Ship Arming Hill to remove all (he restrictions imposed b.v the Neutrality on the movement of United States ships into belligerent ports and combat zones. Administration leaders predict that the bill will pass within a fortnight by at least 55 votes. The House of Hepresentatives Ims alreadv approved recommendations lor the arming ot American merchant ship—. A 6000-ton cruiser for the Cnited States Navy was launched yesterday. The United States expects to huild one destroyer every HO days in the next ! year, it is stated in 'Washington, j' The Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Frank Knox, said the United States Fleet was now the greatest in the world. Few people disagreed, however, that it must he made stronger. The first 60-ton tank for the I niled States Army has passed its tests. It is stated to carry the heaviest array oi armaments ever placed on a land vehicle. CONTROL OF ROUTES COUNTERING U-BOAT DANGER NEW YORK, Oct, 'it The Navy Department has assumed control of all shipping operations to counter the threat from U-boats, says the Washington correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor. All routes will bo determined in future by the Navy. A detailed course will be fixed for every merchantman, and ships will bo re-directed at sea whenever necessary. No ship may fix its own route or destination. ATLANTIC DRAMA BURNING MERCHANTMAN HEROIC RESCUE WORK LONDON, Oct. 24 Rescue work by the crew of a United States destroyer when a British merchant ship caught on fire in the Atlantic is described by the British official wireless. The light of the merchant ship's crew to save their ship was equally dogged. For 13 hours they fought a losing battle with the flames. The engine room bulkhead grew red hot, and the flames shot down into the stokehold, making it impossible for anyone to remain there. The saloon deck caught tire and collapsed. The hatches collapsed, and there was only one small island on the port side from which the crew continued to tight the fire. The engineers had to leave the engine room, and the pump ceased to work. The captain then sent out a call for assistance, and ordered the crew into the boats. He and the chief engineer remained on board to drop the confidential papers over the side. By this time the whole ship was blazing furiously, and the captain and chief engineer leaped into the sea and swam to a boat. The patrolling American destroyer searched round the sea, lit by the fire, in sheets of rain. At last the boat was found, drawn in nnder the counter of the burning ship, and made fast by the painter. Every man in the boat was fast asleep, and all were rescued. While the crew were boarding the destroyer, a native seaman slipped and fell into the water. He was too weak to swim against the rough sea, and was rapidlv drifting away when an ensign, I C. Savage, dived fully clothed to his help. After '2O minutes' struggle, Ensign Savage towed him near enough to the destroyer for a line to be thrown, and both were hauled on board. At the time of the rescue there was a very rough sea and a heavy swell running. It was raining heavily and very dark. FRESH RESOURCES DISCOVERY IN RUSSIA DISTANT FROM WAR FRONT LONDON. Oct. 24 The discovery of new sources of raw materials in the distant rear of the Russian front continues without interruption, says the Soviet War News. New manganese deposits amounting to many millions of tons have been discovered in the Bashkir republic and the southern end of the Urals. The discovery will eliminate the necessity of importing manganese. . Rich new oil sources nave been found in the past few weeks. Prospectors have discovered new oil pockets in the Kosumizmailovo district, near the Naftalan oilfield. Drilling has begun and several new wells will be completed within a fortnight. _ i Iron ore miners in the Urals are far ahead of the production schedules. Two mines have already produced the output which was planned for the whole of this year. ACTOR'S FINANCES HOLDINGS IN AMERICA NOEL COWARD CHARGED LONDON, Oct. 24 The famous British actor and playwright Noel Coward did not appear at the Mansion House to answer summonses for alleged breaches of the Security Regulations, lie was charged with purchasing 5000 dollars' worth of United States Treasury bonds in April without making a return of the transaction to the Hank of Fngland. lie was also charged with owning other United States securities, valued at £01!) I, of which no return was made to the bank. The proceedings have been adjourned until November 0.