AID FOR BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21184, 6 August 1940, Page 5

AID FOR BRITAIN

PERSHING’S ADVICE FREEDOM OF AMERICA DEFENCE OF LIBERTIES (United Press Assn.—Uiec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON August 5 In a broadcast address, General J. J. Pershing, who commanded the American Expeditionary Force in the last war, urged that the United States should make available at least 50 over-age destroyers to Canada or Britain, “if a proper method can be found,” as a means of safeguarding the United States’ own freedom. “To-morrow may be too late to keep the war from the Americas,” said General Pershing. “If anything the United States is able to do will help to save the British Fleet in the coming weeks and months, we shall be failing in our duty to America if we do not do it. If old destroyers are able to help to save the British Fleet, they may save us from the dangers and hardships of another war. “I believe it would be absolute folly even to consider sending another Expeditionary Force to Europe. The way to defend our heritage before it is too late is to do everything possible to aid Europe’s last democracy—Britain. “We can easily afford 50 destroyers, because we have an immense reserve of them from the last war. The next few weeks and months will be the most critical for Britain, because after that She will have completed a large number of her own destroyers. Threat to America “America is at present gravely threatened,” General Pershing declared. “We must unitedly arise in defence of our liberties and independence.” Colonel Adler, who is civilian aide to the Secretary of War, Mr H. L. Stimson, said in a broadcast: “If the British Fleets are scattered and seized, what is to stop Hitler bringing his armies, tanks and guns to the Western Hemisphere? “Even with Europe in his grip he will need the raw materials of the Americas. He will try to obtain them by economic and political penetration, and if he fails he will try force.”

The United States had at the outbreak of war the world’s largest fleet of destroyers, numbering 215. Of these, 153 were of the “flush decker” type, completed between 1918 and 1922, with a displacement ranging from 1090 tons to 1190 tons, armament in the majority of cases of four 4in guns and 12 torpedo-tubes, and a speed of 35 knots. Most of them had been laid up, but about 70 were recently refitted and commissioned for patrol service off the Atlantic coast.

Britain began the war with 179 destroyers in commission and about 24 under construction. Losses in the war total 27.