STRATEGY OF TERROR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 October 1940, Page 7

STRATEGY OF TERROR

DEFIED BY UNITED STATES

PRESIDENT ON DEFENCE PREPARATIONS.

TRIBUTE TO GREAT BRITAIN

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright! WASHINGTON, October 24.

President Roosevelt, in a speech said foreign propagandists “who seek to divide ns with their strategy of terror have a reply in character-

istic.allv American, terms —

preparations for the defence

of the Western Hemisphere.”

The United States, he said, was not afraid to be resolute in its will for peace, while simultaneously preparing for the defence of the two American continents and the ocean highways of those continents.

President Roosevent paid a tribute to Britain’s stand against Germany. He said the democratic system was undergoing a fearful test, but the structure of the democratic faith was more enduring than marble and more precious than all man had built. He insisted that democracy was essentially strong, and issued a warning that the dictators were quick to take advantage of the weakness of others.

The Attorney-General, Mr. Jackson, announced that grand jury proceedings have been instituted against Manfred Zapp. head of the German Transocean News Service, for alleged violations of the Foreign Agents Registrations Act.

PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST. The President returned to Washington today after his election speech in Philadelphia last night. He repeated that he would slay within 12 hours of Washington at the present critical stage of world conditions. The forthcoming Presidential election is taking first place in the United States, even before news of Herr. Hitler's talks. Mr. Wendell Willkie, the Republican candidate, in a speech today described President Roosevelt’s speech at Philadelphia as being like the'American defence system, “either obsolete or on order.” The President had a conference with the Secretary of State, Mr. Hull, on the latest developments in Europe and the Far East, and they then summoned the Army Chief of Staff, General George Marshall, and the Assistant Secretary for War, Mr. Patterson. AIR FORCE EXPANSION.

An announcement by the War Department tells of the reorganisation of the Army Air Corps. Under the new scheme the present number of combat planes will be more than doubled, and a highly-mobile fighting force will be established of a kind which can operate anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.' The programme is expected to be finished by 1942. The new force will have more than 12,000 planes, with a balance of yet more held as reserves. Mr. Stimson (Secretary for War) confirmed today that the warplanes sent to the Philippines included 110 originally ordered by Sweden and then requisitioned by the United States Government. He made it clear that the planes were being sent not for training, but for combat. Mr. William Bullitt, the United States 'Ambassador to France, in a speech in New < ork today, declared that no nation on earth could appease the Nazis, because they sought domination over the earth. If Britain fell it would be America’s turn next.