WAR MATERIALS FOR AXIS

Southland Times, Issue 24241, 26 September 1940, Page 7

WAR MATERIALS FOR AXIS

U.S. GOODS PASSING NEUTRALS (Received September 25, 10.25 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 25. The Daily News says that 10,000,000 dollars worth of war materials are going to the Axis from the United States monthly, via Spain, Portugal, Cuba, Russia and Mexico. The Department of Commerce figures show, for example, that exports to Spain and Portugal increased by 22,000,000 dollars compared with the first seven months of last year, while shipments to Russia, thence to Germany, are leaping up. Well-informed circles believe that Britain and the United States will collaborate in a joint blockade of the Pacific, with which the use of Australia, New Zealand and Singapore is bound up.

Mr Roy W. Howard, in an article in the Scripps-Howard newspapers following his trip to New Zealand and Australia, emphasized that New Zealand and Australia seek closer co-operation between the Empire and the United States in the Pacific.

“New Zealand and Australia are" interesting political phenomena," he said. “Politicians’ and business men’s statements might cause the mistaken belief that these independent Com-

monwealths are prepared to climb into ‘Uncle Sam’s’ lap. Far from indicating disloyalty to the Empire, for which they are pouring out blood and treasure even more generously than in 1914, the attitude merely expresses the determination that the English-speaking way of life shall not be snuffed out. Should the worst happen and England fall temporarily, New Zealanders and Australians foresee a new significance in the United States-Canadian pact. In the meantime, they face the menace of totalitarianism and realize that their relationship with the United States does not differ greatly from that binding them to Canada.”

LOSS OF SUBMARINE THAMES (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, September 24. The Admiralty reports that the submarine Thames is overdue and must-be presumed lost. The Thames was completed in 1932. Her displacement was 2000 tons and she carried one 4-inch gun and two machine-guns. She wrfl fitted with six 21-inch torpedo tubes. Her speed on the surface was 21.75 knots and submerged 10 knots.