NEUTRALITY ACT CONDEMNED

Southland Times, Issue 23969, 8 November 1939, Page 7

NEUTRALITY ACT CONDEMNED

CRITICISM BY GERMAN PRESS EXCLUSIVE ASSISTANCE TO DEMOCRACIES (United Press Assn,—Telegraph Copyright) (Received November 7, 6.30 pan.) LONDON, November 6. Berlin reports state that the entire Press, taking its cue from the Diplomatische Korrespondenz, official organ of the German Foreign Office, loudly condemns the new United States Neutrality Bill. It utters sinister warnings and declares that the Bill fans the flames anew and exclusively assists the democracies. ALLEGED USE OF GAS BY POLES GERMANS SEND HAND BILLS TO UNITED STATES (Received November 6, 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 6. It is reliably reported that at least 8000 copies of a German handbill accusing the Poles of using Britishprovided gas have been distributed in New Jersey. The envelopes were postmarked in Berlin. SINKING OF DANISH LINER NO BRITISH MINES LAID NEAR SCENE (British Official Wireless) (Received November 7, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, November 6. The German broadcast allegations that the Danish liner Canada was sunk by a British mine are denied in London, where it is stated that no British mines have been laid anywhere near the position in which the Canada was sunk. It is pointed out furthermore that British mines, if they break away from their moorings, are designed to become immediately safe in accordance with international law, NAZI MINEFIELD AT FALSTERBO EXTENSION PERTURBS SWEDES (Received November 7, 7.30 p,m.) STOCKHOLM, November 6. ■ The extension of the German minefield off Falsterbo has virtually closed the entrance to the Baltic, and is perturbing Swedish ship owners because th? unmined waters are only deep enough for lightly-laden vessels. For this reason shipments must be made from the west coast, involving railway charges, Sweden has protested to Germany against the extension of the minefield. TRAWLER SKIPPER'S DARING FEAT DRIFTING MINE PUSHED TO SHORE (British Official Wireless) (Received November 7, 6,30 p.m,) RUGBY, November 6. A daring exploit is reported of an east coast trawler skipper, Leo Nomyn, whose house was threatened with damage by the explosion of a drifting mine for the second time within a week, Nomyn swam out to the mine and pushed it in front of him to a part of the beach clear of the sea wall, where the horns of the mine were later removed, rendering it harmless.

APPLICATION BY U.S, LINES MARITIME commission DELAYS ACTION (Received November 7, 11,55 p.m-) WASHINGTON, November 7, ' The Maritime Commission, has announced that it is formally delaying action on the United States Lines’ application to use ships in the war zone under the Panamanian flag- pending a thorough study of the position. Any favourable action which might be taken would only be on the definite understanding that the, operations of the vessels would in no way involve diplomatic protection or be made the basis of a claim by the United States Government. Senator T, Connally (Democrat), broadcasting, said that 130 American ships of 860,000 tons, representing 47 per cent, of American ships and 44 per cent, of American tonnage, would be withdrawn as a result of the Neutrality Bill. Labour circles are indignant because the crews must be alieps, Shipping circles belieye that they will be mostly Canadians. Tfie National Foreign Trade Council has established a com ittee to study the chartering of foreign ships and their transfer to American registery. ESPIONAGE ACT IN UNITEDSTATES APPLICATION TO CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY (Received November 7, 6,30 p.m-) WASHINGTON, November 6. The Government is applying the Waretime Espionage Act to the civilian aerp= nautical industry, The War and Navy Departments are waiving the regulations forbidding the sale pf new models until 18 months after development. SAFE DEPOSIT FOR RADIUMJOMBS tubing sunk into GRAVEL UNDER HOSPITAL (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, November 5. A safe deposit 50 feet deep in Thames gravel under the Westminster Hospital is being constructed for the hospital's radium bombs and their contents—six grammes of radium salts" valued at between £30,000 and £40,000. Fifty feet of steel tubing, 15 inches in diameter, was sunk into the gravel during the week-end. The Westminster Hospital radium supply will be brought back from 8 similar well at the Royal Cancer Hospital, where if has been deposited since the outbreak of war. In future, radium bombs will be deposited in the tube each night and, in the event of air raids, this will enable continuation of treatment by radium at Westminster Hospital by daylight.