AID TO ALLIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 161, 7 June 1940, Page 7

AID TO ALLIES

AMERICAN AGITATION. GROWING MOVEMENT OUTSPOKEN SENATOR. (United Press Association—By Electric , Telegrapn— Copyright.) Received June 7, 10 a.m. . NEW YORK, June 6. • The New York State Chamber of Commerce has passed a resolution urging “every possible assistance to the Allies, an amendment to the Nentralitj’’ Act, swift United States rearmament, close surveillance of subversive activities, and the registration of aliens.” An amendment removed a clause opposing the sending of an expeditionary force. At Washington Governor Lehman called at the White House and urged tlie furnishing of the Allies promptly with all the aeroplanes, equipment, and supplies that can be spared. The White House has reported that the American Ambassadors to Britain and France “are telephoning and cabling, urging the United States to speck! up the production of military essentials.” It declined to comment on reports (which were later denied) that Mr Mvron Taylor (Ambassador to the Holy See) had offered His Holiness a haven in the United States. Countering Senator Pepper’s renewed proposal to aid the Allies, Senator Lucas, in the Senate, asked what would be the position if Hitler declared war on the, United States as the result of such action. ...... In reply Senator Pepper said: “It would not change the situation. Hitler is already at war with us, at war with the world, at war with South America. He lias sent the Fifth Column to the United States. That is intervention.” Tlie -Attorney-General (Mr R. Jackson) lias ruled that the transler to the Allies of World War rifles, field guns find ammunition will not violate international law. It is understood these include 600,000 rifles and 2500 field pieces, shipment of which can be made soon. “WE SHOULD BE IN.” Mr James W. Gerard, who was United States Ambassador in Berlin prior to the American entry in tlie \Vorld War, stated: “Tlie United States is ‘cooked’ unless she Joins the Allies. We ought to be in the war.” A prominent Republican, Colonel Frank Knox, speaking at Milwaukee, urged every possible aid to the -Allies without worrying about payment at present. He added: “The United States’s failure to provide courageous leadership in these hours is damnably near treason.” A Rome message quotes Signor Y. Gayda (Signor Mussolini’s Press mouthpiece) stating: “If the United States takes sides in this war, the time may come when a great European Power may intervene in favour of an American nation warring against the United States.”

SEA POWER SUPREME. LESSON OF EVACUATION. FEW DIRECT HITS OBTAINED. Received June 7, 11.0 a.m. RUGBY, June 6. The facts and figures in connection with the embarkation of nearly, 350,000 men under the most violent aerial bombardment the Germans could bring to bear are still being released. It can now be stated that the larger naval vessels engaged in the evacuation made about,s4o round journeys. The number of journeys during which direct bomb hits were obtained was less than five per cent, of the total number of'round journeys. The great majority of hits were, obtained when the vessels were stationary, either alongside piers or off beaches taking on men. In the case of smaller auxiliary craft the proportion of journeys on which hits were obtained was even less favourable to the attack. The circumstances of this embarkation provided almost ideal conditions for the aerial bomkirdment of the ships, and, as Mr Churchill pointed out on Tuesday, the enemy had the best motive to strain every nerve, and it may safely he assumed he did so, to destroy the transpoits taking off the large contingents of troops he had hoped to capture. Considering these facts and _ tlie enemy’s admitted numerical superiority : n the air. the experience of these few historic days has given little support to the favourite Nazi theory that air power has rendered sea power impotent and unavailing. NAZI FRIGHTFULNESS. Details of the Nazi machine-gunning of men, women and children struggling in the Avater Avere given by one of the very few survivors of the steamship Abukir, Avhich Avas torpedoed about half-tin hour after leaving Ostend on May 2, Avitli about 200 passengers, including a large number of refugees, of Avhom 40 or 50 Avere women, and some children. While in Ostend the ship had been subjected to continual bombing Avithout being hit. These attacks continued until she Avas some Avay out to sea when they suddenly ceased. Those aboard thought they Aveie clear of danger, but in fact the Abukir had reached an area in which a U-boat was operating. Two torpedoes Avere fired and both missed. A little later the submarine was seen on the surface and the Abukir’s, captain tried to rani her, but the ship’s speed, only eight knots, Avas too sloav; .

The U-boat fired two more torpedoes, one striking the Abukir amidships. She broke in two and sank in less than a minute. The second officer was carried down with the ship, hut was released by the list when she settled on the sea bottom. When lie'reached the surface lie found the, sea swept by a searchlight and immediately a machine-gun started firing at the helpless people struggling. in the water. A few of these managed to cling to a large piece of wreckage, among them a French aiid, a .Belgian girl. This handful, constituting the sole survivors, were picked up by British destroyers about sixhours later.