HELP FOR BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21374, 19 March 1941, Page 6

HELP FOR BRITAIN

TWO ALTERNATIVES FOR AMERICA WARNING AGAINST MENACE OF NAZISM PROPOSED APPROPRIATION OF 7,000,000,000 DOLLARS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 18 The Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, acting speedily, presented Congress with a tersely-worded alternative today: ‘’Give quick approval to the appropriation of 7,000,000,000 dollars for aid to Britain or Jet the Lnited States he stamped “a faltering welcher.” The committee made one change only, hut a vital one. This provides that any defence article procured may he retained by the Government department at the President’s discretion, instead of being disposed of directly to a foreign Government. The committee, regarding this, said: “Obviously if our own need at any point should precipitously become more important than furnishing aid elsewhere the right should exist for the United States to retain an article for our own direct use.”

Effect On Dictators General Marshall, testifying before the House Appropriations Committee, said: 'The appropriation of 7,000.000.000 dollars would have a profoundly disturbing effect on Britain’s opponents and would demonstrate to the Western Hemisphere that we mean business.” Mr H. Stimson said: ‘‘A large portion of the 7,000,000,000 dollars will be spent in the ensuing year. The defence of South America, if we were alcne : would be far more difficult and expensive. ‘ Because of the close co-operation with Britain the United States has profited by standardising weapons and vital improvements have been obtained in exchange for certain information ” Mr Harold Smith. Budget Director, testified that 1,350.000,000 dollars of the 7,000.000,000 appropriation was earmarked ior agriculture, industrial, etc., under which appropriations called for the purchase of cheese, dried eggs. milk, pork and canned goods. Stupendous Outlay in Plants Mr H. Knudsen, Co-ordinator of Defence Production, told the Committee that 704 manufacturing plants are available to produce defence materials. He added that the Government is spending 1,574,000,000 dollars in constructing and renovating 302 plants, which will produce materials worth 126,000,000,000 dollars. The British are financing 61 plants, and 421 are being financed privately by Americans at a cost of 393,000.000 dollars. The Government plants are as follows: Ammunition, 14; warplanes, 20; warplane accessories, 66; warplane engines, one; shells, bombs and torpedoes, 18; munition loadings, nine; machine-guns, five; artillery', 27; small arms, two; ships, 40, tanks, five; armuurplate, 12; machine tools, 20; optical instruments, nine; metals, seven; pumps blowers, five; ship engines, three; rehabilitation arsenals, 19; miscellaneous, 20. MASS PRODUCTION PLANE PARTS IN AMERICA NEW FACILITIES CONSTRUCTED (United Press Assn. —Elec Tel. Copyright) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 18 The War Department announced today that the Ford Motor Company and the Fisher body division of the General Motors Corporation have agreed to construct 18,000,000 dollars worth of new facilities for the mass production of plane parts, which will be assembled at the new ’mid-western bomber plants. PLANES IN COLLISION SIX MEN KILLED (United Press Assn —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 19. 3.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 18 The Navy Department announced today that six men were killed when two planes from the aircraft-carrier Yorktown collided during Pacific manoeuvres. CHUNGKING BOMBED FIRST JAPANESE RAID ONLY SLIGHT DAMAGE (United Pres« Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) CHUNGKING, March 18 Japanese planes raided the Chinese capital to-day for the first time. Five bombs fell in the western suburbs but caused only slight damage. HELP FOR FINLAND LOAN FROM UNITED STATES PURCHASE OF FOOD WM Pr«> »«>n —►-!■■■ T»! Coprrijßf. (Received March 19. 3 15 p m > 'WASHINGTON. March 18 Tr.e. Export and Import Bank has , autnorsed -s lean of 5.000,000 dollars t-j Finland, mainly for die purchase 1 <tC food.

GREAT RESPONSE MR ROOSEVELTS APPEAL SPEED-UP IN PRODUCTION MANY PLEDGES OF SUPPORT (United Press Assn.—Elee. T»!. Copyright; (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 18 Mr Stephen Early, secretary to Mr Roosevelt, said today that the reaction to Mr Roosevelt’s address on Saturday night calling for a speed-up and individual sacrifices in the British aid programme was the best he has ever received. In the stack of telegrams received, Mr Early said, were pledges of support and loyalty from a good many labour organisations, the management of religious and civic groups, and a large number of patriotic MR WENDELL WILLKIE OPPOSITION TO ISOLATION (United Tress Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 19. 3.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 18 Mr Wendell Willkie will tour the United States, making speeches to counter the campaign of the isolationist Senator Wheeler, who threatens a crusade to keep America out of the war. Mr Willkie will travel a few days behind Senator Wheeler and address meetings in every city where Senator Wheeler has spoken. SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS VOLUNTEERS FROM AMERICA BRITAIN REQUIRES AID •.United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 18 Dr. Morris Fishbein, editor of the .American Medical Association Journal, said today that Britain will need American physicians to help care for the sick and wounded. Britain is seriously short of physicians and requires the aid of volunteer American physicians, Dr. Fishbein told the Senate Military Affairs Sub-Committee. ITALIAN REPORTS VERY VIOLENT FIGHTING GENERAL DIES AS HERO (United Trass Assrt.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 18 An Italian communique states: The battle in the Keren sector continued violently. Our troops repeatedly counter-attacked and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, whose attacks were repulsed. Our losses were very heavy. General Lorencmi died a hero’s death when leading a battalion. The Royal Air Force, in a raid on Tripoli, damaged houses. There were some casualties. AIR RAID RELIEF PROMPT ASSISTANCE GIVEN (United Press Assn.—Flee. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 17 Families who were bombed out of their homes on Clydeside received relief from officers of the Assistance Board within three and a-half hours of the first raid. Red tape has been cut clean away. Lord Rushcliffe. chairman of the board, said in an interview in Edinburgh that it was the general rule in the distribution of assistance after a concentrated attack for money to bo paid out by the board to those in need of immediate help. It was paid out on account without prejudice to the final claim. The board paid out at once to those who, for instance, had Jost ah their clothing or whose houses had been bombed and destroyed. Thi enabled them to purchase furniture and necessary household utensils such as pots and pans. Money was also paid nut immediately to enable a man to replace tools needed for his work. In thi: matter great help had been received from the trade unions and the honesty of applicants had been atspiutely beyond criticism.