The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, SEPT. 15, 1941. VIRTUALLY AT WAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 155, 15 September 1941, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, SEPT. 15, 1941. VIRTUALLY AT WAR

ANY illusions entertained by the Nazis that America would do little beyond supplying: the Allies with the sinews of war were dissipated by the strongly worded declaration of President Roosevelt, last Friday to the effect that German naval craft within American waters would be treated as enemy vessels and would be fired on without notice. This decision, taken only after long anc 1 , careful thought was due to the successive sinkings of American trading ships by Nazi submarines, and, in the words of the. president, America is not waiting for the attack to develop—she will strike now, and she will strike hard! The news is heartening to the British peoples for it brings the United States, the greatest surviving Democracy not already in arms against Hitler into= active naval co-operation. The powerful American fleet becomes almost ! part of the British navy in hounding the raiders from the seas. It means also that Nazi vessels of war must now treat the vast territorial waters cf the Americas, not as a haven ol refuge as in .the past, but as areas which will be wholly belligerent to them. They can enter these waters 'only at theii peril.' It is a refreshing change to note the action of at least one neutral which anticipates Hitler,, rather than waiting for him. Had' more of the inoffensive nations of Europe (including ourselves) followed the same firm policy, we would possibly have avoided the present war, or have cut down its duration by half. The same decision will have restrictive effect upon Japan, the little country now on. the horns of a dilemma as to where she should jump. Already Prince Konoye knows that President Roosevelt is wide awake to the intentions of the ambitious Jap., militarist class, already he knows the wobble which is developing as to the national policy to be followed. The firm, clear-cut warning to Axis shipping in American waters, should therefore do much towards weaning the third Power within the Axis away from the influence of its leaders. From a, personal point of view the effect upon the Pacific is even more pronounced. The whole of the American Pacific sea-board is now hostile to the Nazis. American possessions in the Pacific will be under the active protection of the U.S.A. fleet within their respective spheres. These new phases increase the margin of safety to Australasia enormously. Lone raiders will have now to run the American gauntlet as well as avoid the watchful eyes of the Royal Navy. The long standing threat of the Japanese navy to the countries of the South Pacific is almost eliminated, unless, of course the warloving clique in the Tokyo Cabinet decide to chance an active' alliance with Hitler despite its suicidal outcome. Thus on the sea at any rate the: British peoples can welcome America as a new found comrade-in-arms in the cause against the challengers of Democracy and the destroyers of the world's freedom.