AMERICAN NAVY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 July 1941, Page 5

AMERICAN NAVY

SHOULD HELP TO CLEAR ATLANTIC

GIVING VITAL AID TO BRITAIN. IMMEDIATE ACTION URGED BY COLONEL KNOX. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, July 1. The Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Knox, addressing the Governors’ Conference at Boslon. said : “The 1 imp Io use our navy Io clear the Allantic is at hand.

■ "While Hitler is busy crushing Russia we are presented with an opportunity to give vital aid to Britain, and now is the time to strike by giving Britain the means to bomb Germany, crack the morale ol the German people and make the Germans understand the cruelty and ruthlessness that Hitler unloosed on the world.

“This can be done only if the Atlantic is cleared for traffic, including the products of the huge American war industry. “Now is the limb to redeem the President's pledge to deliver the goods where they can be used. While Hitler’s back is turned we must answer his obvious contempt with a smashing blow that can and will change the entire world prospective.” Colonel Knox said that one ship which was recently sunk carried 1000 machine-guns and 1.500 000 rounds ol ammunition. There was only one end to this rate of sinking —a victory for Hitler and his ultimate domination ol the world

REPORTED SUNK SHIP WITH AMERICANS ON BOARD. NURSES AMONG MISSING. LONDON. June 30. Reports from Washington today confirm that there were American marines and nurses on a ship reported to have been sunk in the Atlantic. Eight marines are said to have been rescued. In some quarters in Washington it is stated that the ship was the Marsden, formely Dutch but now flying the British flag. Miss Mary Beard, director of the American Red Cross Nursing Service, said that the Navy Department had advised her that six nurses had been saved. She said that if the ship was the Marsden there were many more nurses than that on board. The Assistant Secretary of State Mr Welles, revealed that the ship was also carrying United States marines who were going to Britain to assist the United States missions there. He explained that the President had power to make exceptions to the restriction on American citizens travelling in that way. He added that it was not yet possible to make an announcement regarding the sinking.