PASSAGE DEMANDED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 August 1940, Page 5

PASSAGE DEMANDED

FOR AMERICAN LEGION IN SPITE OF GERMAN WARNINGS. STATE DEPARTMENT NOTE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON. August 19. The United States in a tersely-worded Note has formally notified Germany that it “expects” that the United States Army transport, the American Legion, which is homeward bound from Petsamo, Finland, with 897 refugees, “will suffer no molestation” from the German armed forces.

The Note followed a statement by the Berlin news agency that the United States had defied the German warning and had ordered the American Legion to proceed to America via a route through the dangerous areas around Britain, and that Germany, therefore would not be responsible for any consequences.

The American Note detailed the negotiations between the two Governments concerning the ship's voyage and added: “The United States is of the opinion, therefore, that the German Government has received sufficient advance notice of the sailing of the ship from Petsamo on the date scheduled and the course to be followed to take every precaution against an attack on the vessel by German combat forces.”

Observers regard the language of the Note as diplomatically strong and leaving no doubt that Germany will be strictly accountable should the ship be harmed from military operations. A State Department spokesman emphasised that Germany did not mention in her communications to America anything concerning mines and the only dangers mentioned were those that could result from German air operations; yet the Berlin Press had published reports concerning the mining of waters adjacent to the British Isles. The German Embassy in Washington in a statement said the German Government had issued a Press communique laying further stress on the danger of mines threatening the vessel on its contemplated course. On Sunday morning the German radio said that the voyage of the American Legion was wanton and carried out in spite of German warnings and characterised it as “criminal folly.” ON HER WAY

SHIP STEAMING THROUGH ARCTIC OCEAN. ANOTHER NAZI EFFORT. (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, August 19. The American Legion is reported to be steaming through the Arctic Ocean, 500 miles from Petsamo. A Berlin radio message last night referred to “the folly of the voyage’ and added that the United States is providing Mr Churchill with a splendid opportunity “for another torpedo similar tc those which sank the liner Athcnia and the Greek cruiser Helle."