AID TO BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21357, 27 February 1941, Page 7

AID TO BRITAIN

OPPOSITION TO BILL NEUROTIC WOMEN MARCH PROTECTION OF CAPITOL (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 27, 1.0 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 Unusual precautions to protect the Capitol have been taken, partly as a result of demonstrations against the Aid to Britain Bill, mostly staged by elderly neurotic women. Guards, who formerly were on duty from 8 a.m. to midnight, are now placed at all entrances on a 24-hour basis. A group of forty women waved flags and signs variously inscribed, including “ Send Halifax Home!” and “Move Over the Unknown Soldier.” It is learned that United States Army officers who were scheduled to return from the Philippines shortly have been ordered to remain, in view of the Far East situation. PRESS AND RADIO NO PLANS FOR CENSORSHIP ASSISTANCE TO PRESIDENT WORK OF REPORTS OFFICE (Unit.d Pr.ii Ami,—E>«c. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 27, 11.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 Mr Lowell Mellett, Chief of the Government Reports Office, said today that the Administration has absolutely no plans for the censorship of the press or radio. Mr Mellett testified in support of the Bill. It would make his agency permanent and authorise an annual appropriation ol 1,500,000 dollars for its operation. Mr Mellett quoted a letter from President Hoosevelt stating that the office of Government Reports is operating at moderate expense, and is an essential part ol the Presidential executive office. The responsibilities of the chief executive have become so heavy that even in normal times there should he an organisation to serve as a central clearing house for information concerning Federal activities and report on the opinions, needs and desires of citizens. The office should be sufficiently flexible and independent to meet the changing conditions and deal with special problems. AMERICAN DESTROYERS . TRANSFER NOT ADVISABLE POWERS OF GOVERNMENT (Called Cress Assn..—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 27, 11 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 General Marshall, in a report to Congress today, states he considers invasion is less imminent than a year ago, when the United States would have been in a somewhat helpless plight. Admiral Stark said that while a transfer of more destroyers was inadvisable at the moment the Government’s hands should not be tied, because it was impossible to foresee what it would want to do tomorrow or the next day under present world conditions. TRUE TO FORM AUSTRALIAN TROOPS PRAISED TRIBUTE FROM AMERICA (Cnlted Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Feb. 25 “ This may not be exactly like the last war, but the ‘ Aussies ” are certainly true to form,” says the HeraldTribune in an editorial. “ When they landed at Singapore they drowned the band until it played ‘ Roll Out the Barrel.’ “ The Australian style of going to war is very like the American. It is the ‘ what the hell?’ style. A French general once said: ‘ It is as if they were going to a fete.’ “ There is no translation possible of ‘La Gloire into Australian, but if the Cockney dialect of Sydney is of no use for literal translation of the word it well knows what it means, as Libya has shown and Singapore will show if need be.” SERVICE WITH FORCES 282 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT BOTH HOUSES REPRESENTED (United Press Assn.—fclec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 27, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 26 A White Paper shows that 160 members of the House of Lords and 116 members of the House of Commons are serv.vig with the forces. Nineteen members of the House of Lords are in the Navy, 138 in the Army, and nine in the Royal Air Force. Twelve members of the House of Commons are r.i the Navy, and 87 !n the Army. Sir Richard Acland (Liberal M.P. for Barnstaple) is serving as a private. Seventeen members of the House of Commons are in the Royal Air Force. The Senate Naval Committee unanimously approved of the 242.000,000 dollars Naval Expansion Bill, including 4,700,000 dollars authorisation for fortification worlds at Guam.