SEA PATROLS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1941, Page 5

SEA PATROLS

EXTENSION OF AMERICAN ACTION STATEMENT BY ADMIRAL STARK. NEED OF SHARING RESOURCES. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) WASHINGTON, April 29. “We must be prepared to share our resources and this we will do within the limits of our security.” This statement. made today by Admiral Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, in an address to the Chamber of Commerce, immediately raised speculation as to whether transfers of naval vessels to Britain might, he imminent. He revealed also that U.S. naval patrols were operating ‘2OOO miles out, in the Atlantic. Admiral Stark said: “The navy is charged with the responsibility to make sure that your ships roll down to Rio and back with no enemy molesting them but winter and rough, weather; that your tankers bring Texas gasoline up to serve New Jersey filling stations undisturbed; that your freighters put out and return from Sydney and Singapore, from Batavia and Manila and Hong Kong, with unbroached cargoes, and, finally, that the American nations proceed on their legitimate affairs to the end of the earth and back, no man making them afraid.”

In an extemporaneous addition to his prepared address, Admiral Stark said: “I wish that I could talk about convoys. I would like to tell you about our patrols 3000 miles out from high latitudes to the Antarctic in both oceans.”

Asked to explain this afterward, Admiral Stark said that perhaps 2000 miles was a better approximation, but a few weeks ago the patrol line had been moved substantially eastward. He stated that a substantial proportion of the American naval expansion programme was ahead of schedule. The unofficial United States “Coastguard Magazine” said that further transfers of armed American vessels to Britain are expected. The magazine said 40 small cutters-which the Wheeler shipyard at New York was at present building for the coastguard service may go to Britain. A message from the Philippines says that the Anglo-Dutch naval patrol in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans has been further extended toward the zone occupied by the United States naval patrols round the Philippines. WHOLE FLEET ASSIGNED TO PATROL DUTIES. . LONDON, April 30. The whole of the United States Atlantic fleet has been assigned to patrol duties, it is announced by Colonel Knox, United States Secretary of Navy. U.S. WARSHIPS WILL ENTER COMBAT ZONES IF NECESSARY. DECLARATION BY PRESIDENT. WASHINGTON, April 29. President Roosevelt told his Press conference that American naval vessels could enter combat zones if necessary in defence of the Western Hemisphere. He said he did not recognise any German combat zone extending round the British isles. NAZI THREAT AMERICAN SHIPS TO BE SUNK. LONDON, April 29. A threat to sink United States ships was made today by a Berlin newspaper, “Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung,” which says that President Roosevelt’s neutrality plan will have but one result —the quick and certain sinking of American ships. Americans would do well to cherish no illusions about the position. It was time for Americans to realise what confronted their shipping and their armament production when President Roosevelt’s plan matured. ONLY STEP FROM WAR VIEW TAKEN IN JAPAN. NEW YORK, April 29. The Tokio newspaper “Kokumin Shimbun” declared today that the decision of the United States to extend the patrol in Atlantic waters to the Western Hemisphere means that the United States is only a step from entering the war. ’ The “Times-Advertiser,” which is controlled by the Japanese Foreign Office, carried the Headline “War Worry Causes General Price Drop" over a story which said that concern is felt on the market that the United States is bracing itself to take the catastrophic plunge into the European war, and this caused a wholesale fall in stocks. Since the German invasion of the Balkans the general tendency has been for prices to move irregularly upward. The “Times-Advertiser." in an editorial. said: “The possibility of peace terms rests upon the United States, hence the United States holds the power of decision. A grave responsibility rests upon Mr Roosevelt’s shoulders in this critical hour.” The usually temperate newspaper. “Asahi Shimbun" described the United States as going headlong into war. and said: “The grim determination of Mr Roosevelt to take the offensive against the Axis Powers means the letting loose of American patrols on all the seas of the world for convoying United Slates transports carrying war materials to Britain.”

MORE THREATS

ALL SHIPS ENTERING ZONE TO BE TORPEDOED.

(Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) BERLIN. April 30.

Officials declared: "11 is all the same to us whether President Roosevelt recognises our blockade zone around Britain. Whoever enters ii will be torpedoed. regardless of his flag."