The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-12
EUROPE ALMOST
CUT OFF FROM U. 5.
Extension of Combat Zone
to Mediterranean Is Blow
to American Shipping
BY HOBART c. MONTEE


United Press STAFF Correspondent
Washington, June 12.-(UP)-Am-
erican shipping, already drastically
curtailed, lost one Of its major re-
naming areas Of operation today
by President Roosevelt's extension
Of the combat zone to the Mediter-
ranean.
The proclamation, issued as O re.
suit Of Italys entrance into the
war, blacks out" the last regular
trade route to Europe for American
ships.
Thus, although Mr.. Roosevelt has
pledged nearly total short Of war"
aid to the Allies, this country is
more Isolated from Europe, for
travel and shipping purposes, than
at any time In recent history.
Only q tiny corner Of Europe
Portugal and the northwest coast
Of Spain-remained open. All other
coastal waters and ports now are
prescribed to Americans or this
countty's ships, except those now
en- route home.
The Bosphorous and the Black
Sea remain open technically, but
since the Mediterranean Is closed
at both ends by the presidents
proclamation, American vessels can.
not reach them.
After Threat 70 TORPEDO
The proclamation came shortly
after word was received by the state
department that the SS. Washing
ton Of the United States Lines had
narrowly escaped torpedoing of the
coast Of Portugal. II was q case
Of mistaken identity" but, ironical-
ly 1t occurred in the small Euro
pean coastal area from which Am.
erican ships are not prohibited.
Mr.. Roosevelt told his press con-
ference yesterday that he had no
information about the possible iden-
tity Of the submarine that ordered
the more than 1000 passengers--
American refugees from European
war zones-and more than 500
members Of the crew to abandon
ship. Only Capt. Harry Mannings
relentless signal that his was an
American ship" was believed to
have saved the Washington from
destruction.
President Roosevelt and other ad.
ministration officials Indicated that
one or more shipping lines might
maintain services to Portugal and
Spain. But the cargoes they would
carry to and from those areas, It
was believed. would be inflnitesimal
compared with that formerly car.
ried to the nations bordering on
the Mediterranean.
The presidents proclamation ex-
tending the combat zone TO southern
Europe was issued last night In con-
formity with the neutrality law and,
az a result OF Italys belligerent
status, In prospect OF extensive
aerial and naval warfare In the
Mediterranean.
American Shipping Suffers
American shipping, meanwhile,
faced dismal future. Closure Of
the Mediterranean was but one
more Of long list Of structures which
have been placed upon American
ships In the past two years. The
others include:
/. Prohibition Of American gov
ernment-owned ships from carry.
ing arms, ammunition or nipple.
ments Of war to either Japan or
China. This was applied about two
years ago. following Japans threat
ened naval blockade Of the Chinese
coast.
2. Proclamation Of combat zones
embracing most Of the coasts sur
rounding the North Sea last Novem-
Der upon passage Of the neutrality
law.
3. Extension Of the combat zones
to include the entire Scandinavian
coastline, following Germany's In
vasion Of Denmark and Norway last
April.