COMPLETION OF DEAL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21210, 5 September 1940, Page 7

COMPLETION OF DEAL

CHURCHILL AND ROOSEVELT DESTROYERS FULLY ARMED (United Press As.3n.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 4 The Daily Mail reveals that Mr Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt completed the agreement by transatlantic telephone. The United States Under-Secretary for the Navy, Mr J. V. Forrestal, announced that the first group, consisting of 12 destroyers, is at Boston and will be ready for Britain on Friday. The vessels will be sailed to Canada by American crews, and will there be taken over by British personnel. The destroyers will be turned over fully armed, equipped and ready for action. Mr Forrestal announced that a board of army and navy experts is leaving today for Bermuda to examine sites for American naval and air bases. The destroyers, known as the “ flush-decker ” type, owing to the absence of the high forecastles which characterise British. destroyers, were completed between 1919 and 1921. They are smaller than the majority of British vessels, having a displacement of 1190 tons, and are armed with four 4in guns and twelve 21in torpedo-tubes in triple mountings. Their designed speed is 35 knots. At the outbreak of war the United States Navy had 153 destroyers of the “ flush-decker ” type laid up, and 70 of them were then refitted and recommissioned for patrol service off the Atlantic coast.

Britain began the war with 185 destroyers and some 24 under construction, and had the assistance of about 80 French destroyers. Due to the defection of the French and the loss of 28 British destroyers by enemy action in the first year of the war, a heavy burden was placed upon the flotillas of the Royal Navy which would not otherwise have been eased until the completion next year of a large number of destroyers now under construction. Criticism of Deal The Republican candidate for the Presidency, Mr Wendell Wilkie, gave general approval to the destroyer transfer, but he criticised the way the deal was carried out. “ The country will undoubtedly approve of the new bases and of the assistance to Britain,” said Mr Wilkie, “ but it is regrettable that the President did not deem it necessary to secure the approval of Congress beforehand.” Isolationist members of Congress allege that the transfer is tantamount to an act of war.