THREAT BY RAEDER

Southland Times, Issue 24445, 27 May 1941, Page 4

THREAT BY RAEDER

AMERICAN NAVAL CONVOYS “OPEN ACT OF WAR” (Rec. 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 26. In an interview given to the Berlin correspondent of the Domei News Agency (Japan) the Chief of the German Naval Staff, Grand Admiral Raeder, said: — “Considering the aggressive character of the American naval patrol activities already established, the German Navy regards very seriously the possible result of American efforts to get war materials to England. Regarding convoys, we can only confirm President Roosevelt s view that convoys mean shooting. “As, according to the American admission, the nature of the cargoes in the convoyed ships is established from the beginning as contraband, a resort to this type of convoy system would be an open act of war and a bare and unprovoked attack. Therefore, the German Navy is justified in taking measures according to the laws of sea warfare and would have to repulse with arms, if necessary, any hindrance, even against American warships.” In the United States the former American Ambassador in London, Mr Joseph P. Kennedy, appears to have come out strongly on the side of the isolationists. He has declared in a speech: “America cannot stem the mighty tide of evolution which is sweeping Europe and Asia. Any attempt to do so will end in defeat and disgrace abroad and in disillusionment at home.”

PRESIDENT’S SPEECH President Roosevelts secretary (Mr Stephen Early), said the speech to be made by the President would not be pleasing to the opponents of the democracies at home or abroad. The New York Times says that a decision should be made to secure the safe transit of American planes overseas. It is to this problem that the President must address himself. Naval circles in London point to two facts as evidence that Germany is far from gaining victory in the Battle of the Atlantic, which is now increasing in intensity. The first is the improvement in British escort strength for convoys, and the second is the progressive driving of attacking U-boats further westward into the Atlantic. There is definite evidence of a reduction of attack in the areas covered by British reconnaissance aircraft.

One comment made—which, in fact, is justified by recent experience—is that the match is now being played on the Americans’ home pitch.

JAPANESE SEIZE U.S. GOODS (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) HANOI, May 26. The Japanese military seized 10,000,000 dollars worth of goods belonging to two United States companies in Haiphong warehouses. The goods were en route to China when the Japanese entered Indo-China last year. The Japanese claim the American companies were merely blinds covering Chinese owners.