SEA TRANSPORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1941, Page 4

SEA TRANSPORT

PROBLEM IN THE ATLANTIC & ELSEWHERE J VALUE OF AMERICAN AID. DISCUSSION IN BRITAIN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. April .13. The Sunday newspapers stress the importance of the Battle of the Atlantic, the vital character of which is fully realised, in spite of the anxiouslyawaited news from the Balkans front On the other side of the Atlantic, the vital part the United States and Canada must play in the all-important campaign is emphasised in the newspapers and a. “New York Times” statement says “in a test of strength battle transportation is fully as important as battle production.” This appears to be typical of considered newspaper opinion.

Commenting on United States aid. the London “Sunday Times" says: “But the greatest help the United States can for the moment give us is that of her shipyards. It is much less satisfactory to replace sunken tonnage than to save it from being sunk. Yet under the present conditions—and particularly so long as we arc debarred from using the ports and aerodromes of Eire—•enormous replacements are needed. There the vast building resources of the United States can make a vital contribution.” Fully realising the importance of convoy escorts, which the newspaper noints to as a direct method of dealing with the transport problem, the “Sunday Times.” examining the more indirect method of sending ships by less dangerous routes than over the U-boat area, states: “Now that the Red Sea and Indian Ocean are cleared of Italian bases, it is possible for our southern Dominions to send cargoes Io Egypt safely. President Roosevelt by proclamation last Friday authorised United States shipping to use the Red Sea. and tanks or fighter aeroplanes manufactured in America could be I carried to the Suez in American ships. Only for the short voyage from Alexandria to Greece would British shipping become requisite/'