RAIDER SUNK?

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21532, 22 September 1941, Page 5

RAIDER SUNK?

MR ROOSEVELT SILENT FAR EAST SITUATION CONTROL OF RADIO (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 President Roosevelt, at his press conference yesterday, declined to comment on a report published by the London Daily Express that an American warship had sunk an Axis raider in the Pacific. The President said he had heard nothing on the Japanese question or the Far East situation in the previous 24 hours, although he was in constant touch with the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull. Mr James V. Forrestal, Undersecretary for the Navy, urged before the Senate Commerce Committee that authority be granted to revoke the licenses of radio operators who had subversive leanings. Mr Forrestal asserted that a number suspected of subversive activity were employed on American merchant ships. Unless the power was immediately granted the navy would be forced to replace all radio operators on American ships with naval operators. The proposed measure would authorise the Federal Communications Commission to revoke the license of any wireless operator deemed subversive on information of reasonable probability. The Postmaster-General, Mr Frank C. Walker, addressing the Democratic Editorial Association of Indiana, said:

“ War is upon us. V.e did not go out to meet it, but like a hurricane it has swept seas, challenging our freedom and jeopardising our national life, and soon it will jeopardise our individual lives.” Mr Roosevelt signed the Tax Bill, increasing the Federal tax level to 3,553,000,000 dollars. Repair of British Warships The United States Navy Department announced yesterday that 12 British warships, including the battleship and the aircraft-car-riers Formidable and Illustrious, are in United States ports for repairs, provisioning or other purposes. It was officially stated today that full lists of British warships under repair in American yards will be published in future in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of American aid to Britain.

It is noteworthy that President Roosevelt pointed out to Congress the repairs to the battleship Malaya and aircraft-carrier - Illustrious as outstanding examples of this naval assistance. VICHY TREACHERY USE OF TUNISIA PORT BRITAIN’S DESERT FORCES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 20 According to the Independent French news agency, Vichy has given the Germans the right to transport war materials from the seaport of Gabes, in Tunisia, to Tripolitania. The port of Tripoli is reported to be no longer useable for landing war materials, and the railway from Tripoli westward to Zuara is being hurriedly extended to the Tunisian frontier.

An Italian communique admits that two motor-ships transporting troops were torpedoed and sunk off Tripoli. Most of the soldiers and the crews were saved.

A despatch from Cairo says tanks, guns and aeroplanes have been flowing to the Western Desert from British and American arsenals in such volume in recent weeks that the process can be described as bolting the doors and double-locking the windows.

A considerable number of Italian reinforcements has poured in in recent months, but contact lately has not convinced the Imperial forces that their fighting spirit is any better than that of Graziani’s armies. The campaigning season approaches and the Army of the Nile is now stronger than at any time since the outbreak of the war. BRITISH IN IRAN SKODA FACTORY OCCUPIED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 21 The Daily Telegraph’s Teheran correspondent states that a British column of several hundred armoured vehicles has occupied the inner suburbs of Teheran, taking over from the Russians. The British have also occupied the Skoda machinegun factory in the east of the city. The Republican section of the Iranian Parliament is reported to have demanded the trial of the ex-Shah. It is also reported that 500 political prisoners have already been released under the new Shah’s amnesty. The round-up of refugee rebels from Irak is proceeding. The latest news from Iran shows that the British and Soviet military authorities are working in close harmony with the Iranian Government, a state of affairs largely brought about by a realisation that the Allies’ moves are directed again'st the Axis and are very far from being antagonistic to the Iranian people. This was made abundantly clear when British and Soviet troops camped on the outskirts of Teheran instead of occupying it—forbearance greatly appreciated by the Iran Government and people.

PRISONERS OF WAR AUSTRALIANS IN GERMANY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 An Australian prisoner of war, Lieutenant J. Hand, who is at Camp Oflag, Germany, wrote to the Australian Minister in Washington, Mr R. G. Casey, giving additional numbers and names of Australian prisoners there. He said several air-mail letters had arrived from home, and added: “We are in barracks, and reasonably comfortable, with officers of the original British Expeditionary Force. There are opportunities for study, and, although cramped, we manage to have some sport. There is plenty of walking around the camp, but time passes slowly.”