STEPS TAKEN BY U.S.

Southland Times, Issue 24446, 28 May 1941, Page 5

STEPS TAKEN BY U.S.

PROTECTION OF NAVAL FORCES AUTHORITY SOUGHT (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 27. The Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Frank Knox, asked Congress for legislation granting naval commanders authority to take whateversteps are deemed necessary in United States territorial waters for the proper protection of naval forces. The United Press says the House Naval Affairs Committee, reporting on the Bill creating additional vice-ad-mirals, implied the possibility that United States units may be operated in conjunction with the navy of another nation, presumably Britain. The report says: “The Navy Department foresees the desirability of being able to detail officers of sufficient rank to represent the country effectively from the standpoint of relative rank with officers of other navies, also the desirability of giving increased rank to an officer commanding a special unit afloat if the importance of that command should warrant it.” Significantly there are many British vice-admirals, whereas there are only three in the United States Navy. MORE MEN TO REGISTER President Roosevelt, in the interests of national defence, has ordered 1,000,000 men who have reached the age of 21 years since the previous registration to register under the Selective Service Act. Richard Krebs, a former member of the Gestapo, told the House of Representatives Committee on un-American Activities that the German Gestapo had a complete card index of American citizens tagged as enemies or friends of the Nazi regime. The lists provided a constant barometer of the strength, morale or weakness of other nations and listed elements which could be harnessed to the German movement before war. New York was the Gestapo clearing-house, but it had been moved to San Francisco, the Consul-General, Herr Fritz Wiedemann, being a trusted lieutenant of Hitler. Krebs testified that Gestapo agents were in many business houses.

Public interest in the national emergency has resulted in new records for incoming mail, says the Washington correspondent of The Times. President Roosevelt’s mail alone is averaging 10,000 letters a day. There is an avalanche of mail for congressmen. Some members say that there is a striking shift of public opinion towards increased aid to England and China even at the risk of war.

Mr Stephen Early, the President’s secretary, referring to the warning by Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, Chief of the German Naval Staff, said that Berlin was trying to becloud beforehand the President’s speech and precipitate something in the interim. The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, accused Germany of making threats to induce the United States to refrain from real efforts in self-defence. The Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies has sent a letter to President Roosevelt pledging loyal support even for armed action to hasten the defeat of the Axis. Addressing him in his capacity of Commander-in-Chief of all the American Forces, it says: “We await the facts and the leadership which the Commander-in-Chief alone can give.” A German Naval Spokesman referred to Grand Admiral Raeder’s interview. “He lays all our cards on the table,” said the spokesman. “Nobody should miss the timeliness of his statement regarding the dangers of American convoying.”