ARMING SHIPS

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21583, 20 November 1941, Page 6

ARMING SHIPS

AMERICAN PLANS WITHIN 10 DAYS SAILING THE ATLANTIC (United Press A3sn —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 20, 3.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 Colonel Knox, at a press conference today, said armed American merchantmen will be sailing in the North Atlantic within 10 days. Those now sailing under the Panama flag will be promptly transferred to the United States registry. It will probably take three months to arm all other American merchantmen. Colonel Knox disclosed that the captured German freighter Odenwald was one of a number of German ships which had been chartered to Japanese interests. GENERAL WEYGAND DISMISSED BY VICHY i United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 20, 3.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 19 Quoting private sources, the United Press of America says the Vichy Government on Tuesday dismissed General Weygand from his present post in order to please Hitler. It is stated that General Weygand will not be replaced. General Weygand arrived in Vichy earlier in the week and it was suggested that his visit was concerned with German pressure on Vichy for his appointment as War Minister, in succession to the late General Huntziger. The Germans felt that in his present post General Weygand, as supreme commander of the French forces in Africa, was too independent and at Vichy he would be more under the control of Admiral Darlan. WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 The United States has decided to withhold decision on the French request for food pending a clarification of the report of General Weygand’s dismissal. RECTOR ARRESTED SUSPICION OF SPYING (United Press Assn.—Eke. Tel. Copyright. ROME, Nov. 18 The rector of the American Episcopal Church, the Rev. Hiram Woolf, has been arrested on suspicion of bing engaged in intelligence activity. FRENCH IN SALONIKA FORCE OF 30,000 MEN (United Press Assn.—ej.v. rol. copyright; LONDON, Nov. 18 Five thousand French troops released from prison camps, who arrived in Salonika in July to take part in the Syrian campaign, were retained after the armistice for garrison duties, says the Cairo correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. The French force in Salonika is reported to total 30,000 men, partially mechanised. They are not performing garrison duties, but consider themselves a spearhead for the reconquest of Syria with the slogan “Syria in two months.’ ’ They believe that they may possibly synchronise thisc conquest with a German advance on Batum.