CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1941, Page 5

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Roosevelt Orders Elimination of Submarine ATTACK MADE ON AMERICAN SIDE OF ATLANTIC LONDON, September 5. President Roosevelt, speaking at a Press conference today about the submarine attack on the United States destroyer Greer, declared that the United States willingly accepted the challenge. “We accept the challenge promptly and gladly,” he said. “I ordered American forces to eliminate the submarine and you can quote me as saying ‘eliminate’.” President Roosevelt said the destroyer was carrying - mails to Iceland and was alone at the time the attack was made. The destroyer, which was clearly marked, was attacked several times in daylight. It was very fortunate indeed- that the destroyer was not hit by a torpedo from the submarine. The attack took place on the American side of the Atlantic. Reports from other sources state that the evidence indicates that the attack was a deliberate action by the German submarine commander. The destroyer arrived in Iceland today. It is believed that the submarine was damaged. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Sun” states that America’s Atlantic Fleet may be ordered to shoot on sight at German warships, if the attack of the submarine is proved to have been deliberate.