VAST EXPANSION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 29241, 11 October 1940, Page 10

VAST EXPANSION

AMERICAN WAR EFFORT CHANGES IN SENTIMENT (By Telegraph.—pres* Association) WELLINGTON. Thursday From an attitude of apathy toward M just another European war,” the people of the United States have been awakened by the over-running of Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, and finally France to a realisation that Britain is fighting America’s war as well as her own, according to Mr Andrew Todd, who has returned to Wellington after a visit of several months to the United States. He believes that when “ cash and carry ” becomes too difficult America will extend all the credit facilities needed, and that public sentiment is changing further to the attitude. “ We’ll be in with you later on.” “ Although vast expansions are being made in existing and new plants,” said Mr Todd, “ it will still be a year or more before America, who three months ago was in a worse position to go to war than Britain in September, 1939, will be geared up to war production. When France fell Americans realised it was just as much their war as England’s, because they knew if England were defeated it would be America’s fate to fight Germany single-handed. The consequence was that today the United States as a nation is completely behind giving England all possible support short of declaring war and sending men to fight in Europe. 44 Many Americans were saying they should go further than the extension of credit and should actually give England material and munitions, which would be a cheaper investment than to have to fight a war on their own. Under Mr Knudsen, as Director of War Production, assisted by other able and experienced industrialists, plans had been laid for a vast expansion so that in 12 or 18 months the United States will be by far the largest producer of implements of war. With enormous supplies to come from America and her own increasing production, England will be placed in the strongest position to prosecute the war.”