The Wilmington morning star., 1940-11-27
BRITAIN LOOKING
TO u. S. FOR MORE
ARMS AND SHIPS
Continued From Page One,

CONTINUED From Page One)
preparation before Britain can take
the offensive. At first they said
an offensive could be expected in
1871; now they talk of 1s43 and
1914.
Needs Help
Britannia still rules the waves
but needs more American help to
do it. A considerable part of re.
cent staggering shipping losses a
be traced to deficiencies in escort
ships.
Unless Britain can get more
United States destroyers to go with
the so already obtained, shipping
losses likely will continue at a
high level. There likewise is the
need for merchant ships and this
need will grow as spring brings
an increase in U-boat activity.
Only today minister Of shipping
Ronald H. Cross made the ominous
admission that Britain is losing
ships faster than she can replace
them.
While Britain's sbipyards are
working at capacity, part of the
facilities must be devoted to naval
construction and repairs.
1--WE are therefore anxious" he
said, "to get more ships built over
seas and we r looking primarily
to the shipyards of the United
States, since by themselves the re-
sources of the empire are not
enough"
More Speed Asked
The press Is demanding a speed
up of the still-faltering industries
and the use of the unemployed,
whose numbers are rising despite
the war effort.
Britons have been blinded partly
by propaganda and their censor
ship often is guilty of making a
reverse look like a victory because
the British can and r taking
it,"
Complacency, distortion and re-
luctance to admit the truth are as
dangerous to the British u as
nightly bombings.
Indeed, these are dark hours for
Britain-the darkest since the mir
acle of Dunkerque" when the
British army escaped from the
Nazi trap and left the Germans
looking longingly at the white cliffs
of Dover, only % miles away.
The realization is growing that
this winter will be the severest
test since those black days back in
May.
Confronted with this situation, the
government is striving to avoid
false optimism, but it still is re-
luctant to admit or deny German
claims of bomb damage or anything
at all about military equipment or
war industries.
New Strategy
The Germans are using new
strategy of singing out provincial
towns for blitz blows and Britons
outside London blame propaganda
to the effect that London is un'
hurt for the shift to the hlnter-
land, which~ is not so well pro-
tected.
The people are worried because
the Germans appear to hold the
initiative in diplomacy as we'll as
in the military field.
The cry for the scalp of Lord
Halifax as foreign secretary Is
raised almost daily in the press.
Here's a sample: Our diplomatic
has deteriorated ever since
he was appointed it is trans
parently obvious that he will have
to 60 some day. Why not now?"
Daily the press, officials and
do blare accounts of Italian re-
in Greece, in the Medlter'
the lull in Africa and the
of Germany to throw her
armed weight Immediately to Mus
solini's retreating army in Albania.
Yet the headlines and the BIC
tell only of Slight damage ano
few casualties" in raids on Brit
aim. when the people themselves
can see the wreckage left and are
mourning whole families wiped out.