AMERICA ALERT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1941, Page 6

AMERICA ALERT

SENDING ALL POSSIBLE AID TO RUSSIA CONCERN OVER OUTLOOK IN FAR EAST. JAPAN AND SIBERIA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 13. President Roosevelt formally announced that munitions for Russia were leaving United States ports constantly. Everything was being done to send material to the Soviet. All the munitions, tanks, planes and trucks premised at the Moscow conference for October delivery would be sent to Russia this month. Congressional sources said Mr Roosevelt now believes that the Russian Army will continue to resist the German invasion forces for a prolonged period. Even if Moscow falls, the President is of opinion that the Red Army will try to draw up a defensive line in an arc swinging behind the Volga River, protecting areas in which forty per cent of Russian’s war industries are located. This is contained in a report by Mr Harry Hopkins on his return from a conference with M. Stalin. Congressional sources added that Mr Roosevelt was concerned over the Far Eastern situation, particularly as to a possible Japanese thrust to Siberia. While Japanese divisions mass near Russia’s Eastern frontier, Tokio newspapers are talking of the spoils to be got if Russia collapses. The “Kokumin Shimbun” says: ‘‘The defeat of Russia is only a matter of time. Japan must be vigilant and must not be left behind in the international field.” Air Marshal Sir R. Brooke-Popham, before leaving JSingapore yesterday, said that if Japan attacked Siberia, London would decide ' what action would be taken 'by the British forces in the Far East. "Personally,” he said, “I think we should act in close concert with the United States.” Sir R. Brooke-Popham added that there was no sign that Japan was plan-, ning an immediate southward invasion.