ARMS FROM AMERICA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 248, 17 September 1940, Page 8

ARMS FROM AMERICA.

FOURTH OF BRITISH ARMY

NEAA r YORK, Sept. 5

One man in every four under arms in Britain has been equipped with arms from the United States, according to Mr Clark Eichelberger, director of the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies. ‘Mr Eichelberger based 'his statement on the reports of Mr John L. Balderson, the Washington observer for the committee, who said that after the crisis caused by the fall of France, the United States shipments to Britain included SO.OOO machine-guns, 700 field gun?, 500 000 rifles, and “mountains of ammunition.” AVhen Mr Churchill's immortal “fight on the beaches” speech was ringing round the world, 15 ships carrying 100,000 tons of American weapons and explosives had reached Britain, his report stated. The shipments included 80,000 Hotchkiss macliine-guns which are now guarding the British shores, 500 000 Lee Enfield rifles, and huge quantities of shells and small arms ammunition, and other materials. All this equipment was not a gift, but was purchased by British agents. Mr Balderson stated that Britain wanted still more, and he listed among her requirements motor torpedo-boats, the new flving-boats now being built at San Diego, some “firing fortresses,and even to share with tho American Army the future nroduction of all the present output of tanks.