CALL FOR ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1941, Page 5

CALL FOR ACTION

MADE BY MR WENDELL WILKIE AGAINST ATTACK ON FREEDOM OF SEAS. LONDON & TOKIO COMMENTS ON GREER AFFAIR. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright! NEW YORK. September 6. The titular leader of the Republican Party, Mr Willkie, addressing a luncheon in honour of King Peter of Yugoslavia, said: “Once again bestial might has challenged the right of America to freedom of the seas. I know I speak with the overwhelming sentiment of my fellow Americans in urging the President to meet the challenge with determination and force. “I hope (Mr Willkie added) the President will serve notice on Germany that the United States expects its ships to go unmolested across the North Atlantic, and that those interfering with them will receive the result to which they are entitled.” The Tokio newspaper “Hochi Shimbun” minimises the Greer incident, stating; “She is just a belligerent destroyer attacked by a submarine in belligerent waters.” London newspapers on Friday used plain’ language about the attack. The “Daily Telegraph,” under the heading, “A New World Peril,” said: ’Tt now remains for Berlin to declare its attitude. If it accepts responsibility for the action of the submarine commander, a direct challenge will have been thrown down at President Roosevelt's delineation of the American side of the ocean. The consequences of the 'elimination' of the attacker. if achieved, cannot be less important.” The “Daily Mail” says that in view of the immunity given by the Germans to all shipping on the United StatesIceland route, it can only be assumed that the captain of the submarine was acting on direct orders from Berlin. For the first time since the war began, Germany has made a direct challenge to the United States. There was no respect for the Greer or for the American flag in the unprovoked attack.

NAZI VERSION ATTACK ALLEGEDLY MADE IN SELF DEFENCE. DIRECT AMERICAN DENIAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK. September 6. An official announcement in Berlin admits that a U-boat fired two torpedoes at a destroyer of unknown nationality in German blockade waters at 2.29 p.m. The torpedoes missed their mark, after which the destroyer dropped depth charges till midnight but without success. The announcement added that the destroyer had attacked the U-boat, whose action was justified on the ground of self-defence. The attack against the U-boat, it said, proved that President Roosevelt had given shooting orders to the United States Navy and that he was trying to provoke incidents to force the American people into the war. According to the latitude and longitude given in the Berlin statement the attack on the Greer occurred about 220 miles south-west of Reykjavik, Iceland. The United States Navy Department announces that, notwithstanding the German contention, the initial attack was made by the submarine. The “New York Times.” in a leading article, says: “It is time for us to recognise the realities of our position. We are no longer neutral in this war. We are not above the battle. It is time to repeal the prohibition of the Neutrality Act, which has lost all sense and meaning. As we do not intend to yield to Nazi Germany, and as we are committed to a democratic victory, let us arm our ships and send them on their appointed missions under the protection of our Navy.”

HELP COMING EXPANSION OF AMERICAN NAVY. DECLARATION BY COLONEL KNOX. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright! WASHINGTON. September 6. The light cruiser Atlanta was launched today at Kearney, New Jersey, making 251 naval craft launched, 436 keels laid and 213 ships placed in active service this year. The Secretary for the Navy, Colonel Knox, in a speech, said: “If Britain and America don’t hang together, we may soon be hanging separately. Fortunately wo are hanging together. “I am satisfied that the seas can bo kept open in the North Atlantic, where run the vital lifelines to the British Isles. Also, in the Far East, where our interests are closely parallel, British and American co-operation is proving, vitally important and checking the march of aggression. The United States Navy is playing an important role in both the above-men-tioned areas. “I say to the people of Britain: Be of good heart. Help is coming from the west in an ever-increasing stream. We are just getting into our stride. Let us hope that this united front of the two nations will persist. Today we have the world to save, tomorrow to build.”