The Waikato Times FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1941 UNITED STATES WARNS GERMANY

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21416, 9 May 1941, Page 4

The Waikato Times FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1941 UNITED STATES WARNS GERMANY

“ The United States will not flinch and will not permit these munitions to be sunk in the Atlantic.” These words uttered by Mr H. L. Stimson, United States Secretary for War, are an unmistakable warning to Germany. In the meantime Germany is proceeding with the sinking of the munitions by every means in her power and has shown not the slightest inclination to desist. Indeed, can she afford to desist ? The United States is sending across the Atlantic vast quantities of war materials that will eventually mean the defeat of Hitlerism. Hitler has a momentous choice to make, and so has the United States. It cannot be imagined that the solemn declarations of the American leaders are nothing more than idle talk. Mr Stimson emphatically advises the use of the United States Navy to safeguard shipments of supplies to Britain. President Roosevelt recently said it was not the intention to provide convoys, but the war situation and public opinion are developing so rapidly that it is believed Mr Roosevelt will soon be compelled to make an important decision. For instance, the Texas State House of Representatives voted by 100 to 15 in favour of convoying supplies to Britain. Even regardless of the influence of the leaders, the common people of the United States are awakening to the fact that the American continent as well as Britain is directly menaced by Hitlerism. They realise that in association with Britain they can smash the aggressor’s power, but that if they allow Britain to be defeated the Axis will devour America at its leisure.

The United States is despatching to Britain all the material aid it can assemble. Mr Roosevelt has called his “ War Cabinet” and urged it to speed the production of aeroplanes to help Britain to attack the Germans at home and abroad. In every other way the American people have shown their desire and their determination to do all they can do for the defence of democracy—short of war. But their ability to give the assistance which they desire to give is conditioned and limited by Germany’s offensive in the Battle of the Atlantic. Is America then to be thwarted by Germany after all ? The United States has extended its naval and air patrol far out into the Atlantic and is thus assisting in the tracking down of submarines and raiders, but is that sufficient ?

Figures covering the losses of Allied shipping in the past month are expected to be published shortly. They may indicate the progress of the Battle of the Atlantic. It is certain, however, that considerable quantities of the arms which the people of the United States have laboured to produce with a specific objective have been sent to the bottom of the sea. That is a blow to the United States as well as to Britain. The clear fact is that all the democracies are menaced, and they are using only a part of their means of defence. Europe was over-run because Hitler contrived to rouse the opposition of only one nation at a time. The lesson is there for what remains of the free world. No make-believe and no ostrich-like antics can alter that stark reality.