CONVOY SYSTEM UNDER WAY

Southland Times, Issue 23923, 15 September 1939, Page 8

CONVOY SYSTEM UNDER WAY

GERMAN SUBMARINES ATTACKED

NAZI SHIPPING CLEARED FROM HIGH SEAS

(United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright) RUGBY, September 13. Speaking in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) said that the supply of Germany’s vital war materials carried under neutral flags “has been and will be increasingly limited by the contrabrand control imposed by the power of our Fleet.”

“The British convoy system is operating with increased efficiency every day and when it is fully operating there is no reason to suppose that it will be less decisive than it was 20 years ago,” the Prime Minister said. German submarines were being constantly attacked and success had been achieved. “Practically all the German shipping, totalling around 1,105,000 tons at the outbreak of war, has now been cleared from the high seas,” said Mr Chamberlain. “The losses of British merchant shipping have undoubtedly been somewhat severe. This can be expected because many ships are scattered under peace-time conditions and Germany placed her U-boats and supply ships in the best strategic positions before the outbreak of war.” Mr Chamberlain told the House of Commons that the Government was establishing a Ministry of Shipping at an early date. A statement issued by the Ministry of Information draws the attention to Britain’s right to stop neutral merchantmen on the high seas in order to determine their character and the nature of the occupation in which they are engaged. The communique states that the existence of this right is peremptorily required in order to enforce the control of neutral trade which belligerents are permitted to exercise.

SINKINGS AT SIGHT While there is yet no definite indication of the German Government’s decision as to how the submarine warfare is to develop, the sinking of the Athenia might seem to suggest that Germany has decided to begin a campaign of unrestricted sinkings at sight, not only in defiance of international law, but in direct violation of the specific undertakings into which she solemnly entered in 1936, states another message. Meanwhile, it is clear that the life of the British Empire, together with all the Empire’s warlike economic activities, goes on much as it did before. Ships are daily entering and clearing from British ports in their accustomed numbers and the most acute observer would fail to detect any difference, except for such necessary precautions as must be observed in war-time between any busy British port today and six months ago. . It is true that a few British ships have' been sunk. This is to be expected during the first week or so of the war. There may be a few more sinkings before the submarine menace is finally disposed of and until the submarines now known to be at large have been destroyed or otherwise dealt with.: The main point to be remembered is that the British naval authorities, who in circumstances of far greater peril and difficulty quelled the submarine menace in 1917, have not been idle during the' 25 years which have elapsed. Patient research into the submarine menace has gone on undiminished and has yielded valuable results. If, therefore, Germany has decided to throw this challenge to the civilized world, so far as Britain and France are concerned, it is one which both countries will face with calm and confidence. BREMEN SAID TO FLY ITALIAN FLAG NATIONALITY CHANGED IN MID-ATLANTIC”

(Received September 14, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 14.

The Ministry of Information announces that a report has been published in a Netherlands newspaper that the Bremen changed her nationality in mid-Atlantic and “may now be used.” The newspaper stated that the Bremen was now under the Italian flag and was heading for an Italian port. Tire Ministry of Information added that it was unable to say whether this was true.

AMERICAN LESSON FROM LAST WAR

CONDITION OF FORCES IN 1917 RECALLED

(Received September 14, 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 13. Celebrating his birthday, General John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Force in the Great War, recalled “the deplorable condition of the American forces in 1917.”

“I am happy to say that the experience of its costly lesson will certainly be avoided if we are involved again,” he said. He expressed the hope that Congress will soon authorize the building of the military forces to the full peace-time strength and make generous appropriations to permit intense manoeuvring.

General Pershing pointed out that there was available a large'group of reserve officers capable of undertaking the training of citizen soldiers. This was most reassuring. He referred with pride to the General Staff, which he organized on the basis of the experience gained by the American Expeditionary Force. MR TE WATER RESIGNS POST HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR SOUTH AFRICA JOHANNESBURG, September 13. It is officially announced that Mr C. T. te Water, High Commissions for the Union of South Africa in London, has resigned.