NAVAL EXCHANGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 March 1941, Page 5

NAVAL EXCHANGE

DESTROYERS AND CRUISERS FOR BATTLESHIPS UNITED STATES AND GREAT . BRITAIN. TALK OF PROSPECTIVE DEAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) WASHINGTON, March 10. Official quarters are responsible for a report that the Government is considering lending 40 United States destroyers and 10 light cruisers to Britain in return for the loan of three British battleships. The United States is plentifully supplied with fast cruisers such as the British need while England possesses magnificent new capital ships of little service in the present fighting but which would be valuable to reinforce the United States fleet in the Pacific. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” forecasts, big naval changes to take place immediately. The correspondent understands that some of the United States .navy’s high speed oil tankers may also be handed over to Britain.

EARLY OPERATION AMERICAN LEND AND LEASE BILL. STREAMS OF NAVAL UNITS. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 10. President Roosevelt is prepared today to put the Lend and Lease Bill into operation this week. He possibly will make a fireside chat, explaining the assistance he proposes to give Britain and other nations fighting the Axis. A high authority here stated that the people of the British Empire soon will have the fullest cause to sing “God Bless America,” when streams of American cruisers, tankers and other naval units begin to cross the Atlantic, swelling the British naval forces at . a time when they are'most needed. The President expects the measure to reach his desk for signature on Wednesday afternoon and after signing he will speak to the nation. President Roosevelt is also expected to ask Congress for immediate additional legislation, in the form of appropriations and contract authorisations for billions of dollars for war materials and food.

NAVAL BASES BIG EXPENDITURE PROPOSED. GUAM AND ATLANTIC SITES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright! (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 10. The Senate approved a 242,000,000 dollars Naval Base Expansion Bill, authorising the limited fortification of Guam and construction v/ork at Atlantic sites recently acquired from Britain.