EXTENDED TO PACIFIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 September 1941, Page 6

EXTENDED TO PACIFIC

AMERICAN NAVAL HUNT NET CLOSING ON GERMAN RAIDERS ON APPROACHES TO PANAMA CANAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 16. The United States Navy has extended its search for Axis pirates to the reaches of the Pacific regarded as approaches to the Panama Canal, according to reports from correspondents of several London newspapers in America. The “Daily’Mail’s” Washington correspondent says the first battle between the United States and German navies may be close at hand. Messages flashing between Balboa and the Washington office of Admiral Stark (Naval Chief of Staff) indicated that warships and aircraft are closing in on three German raiders. High naval officers in the control room followed the progress of a dramatic hunt over a wide circle of. the Pacific, with the Galapagous Islands as an approximate centre. The correspondent estimates, from' Balboa reports, that at least five British and Allied ships have been attacked or pursued in the last fortnight. According to Manila messages, it is believed in authoritative circles there that President Roosevelt’s economic investigator, Mr Grady, will recommend United States naval convoys for Dutch ships crossing the Pacific with raw 1 materials for America. Mr Grady is visiting the Netherlands East Indies to ascertain how the production of vital war materials can be stimulated in order to increase shipments to the United States. It is believed that he will recommend that America should send more war equipment to the East Indies.