Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-05
Bases Deal Helps U. S. Meet
Peril, Churchill Declares in
Commons Speech During Raid
Hitler Retaliation
Against America
Is Predicted
(Tert OF ChurchilPS Speech on
Page A-4.)

oSC A-1c
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Sept. 5. - Winston
Churchill told Parliament today
that the British American exchange
of destroyers and defense bases will
enable the United States ito take
danger by the throat whilst 1t is
still hundreds of miles away"-but
he warned the British to remember
that America is not in the war.
The Prime Minister, speaking for
a time during a general London
AFRAID alarm, declared, however
that Hitler mo doubt will pay the
United States out if he ever gets
the chance"
Nevertheless, he expressed his
boundleSs confidence that the en-
pire of the Third Reich will pass
away as swiftly-perhaps more
sWiftly-than did Napoleon's army
although, of course, without any of
its glitter and glory"
Mr.. Churchill told the House of
Commons that no one must read into
the British-American agreement
anything more than is on its face,
and he stressed that it did not affect
sin the Slightest degree the nom
belligerency of the United States"
Destroyers Taken Over.
Turning to the battle of England,
even while it ragged above the capital
itself, the Prime Minister declared
the Germans had used a greater
proportion of their air strength al
ready than the British; warned of
heavier fighting to come, and pre-
dicted
1.-THE whole nation will stand up to
1t, grim and gay"
While he was speaking the deep
bleat of the London sirens sounded
the "all clear"
British crews already are taking
over the first of the so over-age
American destroyers, which are be-
ing transferred to Britain in ex-
change for Western Hemisphere de-
tense bases in the deal announced
Tuesday, Mr.. Churchill reported.
That, he said, smilingly, lis case
of what might becalled the long arm
of coincidence"
Mr.. Churchill conceded that Hit
Ter should be able to magnify and
multiply" his air onslaughter on
Britain this month, but he added:
1--WE can stand it,"
Then he gave the British civilian
air raid casualties for August at l.
OTIS dead, slightly more than that
many wounded and said 300 houses
were destroyed.
Again, he warned the people that
the danger of invasion is not passed,
and called for 1.-The greatest vigil
ance." But he insisted the prob
lem of invasion, for Hitler, was
vastly harder in September than in
June.
Mediterranean Force Doubled.
Dealing briefly with the Balkan
territorial changes, Mr.. Churchill
said Britain intended to recognize
no changes unless they take place
with the free consent and good will
of the parties concerned"
He turned to the Near East to
disclose that the Eastern Mediter-
ranean feet had been almost dou-
bled by the addition of powerful
vessels. The Italians, he said, knew
this, but we were unmolested."
Heavy fighting is coming in the
Middle East, he said.
Mr.. Churchill said agreement to
trade destroyers and defense bases
had won 1.-The general satisfaction"
OF the peoples of both nations.
The Prime Minister'S war state
ment was delayed As minutes by the
second German air raid of the day
on the metropolitan area, and while
the House waited, in adjournment, a
defiant raider traced cross of white
smoke across the blue sky above the
city.
But without waiting for the "all
clear" Commons reaSsembled and
Mr.. Churchill began to speak.
For Insurance REORGANIZATION.
Mr.. Churchill said he favored re-
examination of the question of in
surance against air raid damage,
particularly of the small man."
1.-THE actual figures of British
losses which we have published daily
for these two months amount to $685."
he said. "Our loss in pilots is, of
course, happily very much less. I
do not know whether Herr Hitler
believes the truth of his own pub
Ished figures. Gaughter) I hope
he does"
He said the German claims of
British aircraft destroyed during
the month of July totaled the sur
prising figure of 1921 British air
craft destroyed.
ut is rather like figures we have
heard about our fleet, which has had
many ships sunk many times over"
Lord Chancellor Caldecote told the
House of Lords it was not believed
that legislation by the British Par
Lament would be necessary in the
transfer of air and naval bases on
British possessions in the Western
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