GIGANTIC SHIP PROGRAMME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 169, 21 July 1941, Page 5

GIGANTIC SHIP PROGRAMME

U.S. BUILDING PLAN GREATEST IN HISTORY OF THE WORLD ENOUGH TO CARRY GOODS TO BEAT HITLER London, July 18. In an interview at the American Embasy in London, Air. Harry Hopkins, supervisor of 1 he United Slates lease and lend programme, revealed that the United States is launching the biggest shipbuilding programme ever undertaken liv anv country.

He said the United States was going to build enough ships to take the goods into the United Kingdom and into every theatre of war where the democracies were fighting Hitler Million Tons This Year, Six Million Next The United States would build 1,000,000 tons of merchant shipping this year, 6 000,000 tons next year, and substantially more than that- in 1943. Next year's figure wouid be nearly 2,000,000 tons more than was built in the United Slates during the peak year of the shipbuilding effort in the last war. The United States would see that food was in those ships, and that an adequate amount of cheese, dairy produce, and pork was sent over. Aeroplane Production A vast programme of aeroplane production had been set on foot and this was going ahead in ever-increas-ing scale. Great new factories were going into production and from those factories in mounting numbers would

fly the heavy four-engined bombers which could reach the most easterly parts of Germany and knock out German factories and sources of supply. Mr. Hopkins said that the war production of the United States was increasing every month and would continue to increase. It was far more extensive than anyone realised. The whole production effort of Britain an i America must be devoted to providing munitions sufficient to overwhelm the dictatorships. “We have got to whip this fellow/' he said. “I am convinced that the British Empire and the United States, and the other countries which are still free, can make larger quantities of mechanised equipment than Germany. I have come to discuss the whole problem of supplies for the United Kingdom and the Middle East and that includes anything you can mention, from munitions and food to shipping requirements.” Mr. Hopkins said that he was convinced that between them Britain and America could build far more big planes than Germany, and better ones. Those oppressed and depressed people throughout the world who might be worrying how the war was going could take heart and know it could not be lost. “Goods for War Are Going to Arrive” Asked if the United Stales would protect the transit of her goods across i the Atlantic. Mr. Hopkins replied, I “The President said our goods are going to arrive; we are going to protect the ships that carry these goods, i but I can’t discuss details.”

Mr. Hopkins will stay in Britain for a week or ten days.