Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-07
Brituin's Peril at Seq

having Ialled 10 SuDJugate Britain
by air and pave the way for invasion,
Hitler has revived intensive subma-
rine warfare in the hope of paralyz-
ing her sea communications In ad-
dition, Nazi pocket battleship, sup
poSedly either the LuetzoW or the
Admiral Scheer, a sister of the
Inflated Graf Spec, is at large in
mid-Atlantic, somewhere between
Newfoundland and Ireland The
commerce raider has shelled the New
Zealand liner Rangitiki and a con-
voy of other British merchant ships.
First assault of its kind the Germans
have attempted, it apparently in
dicates extension of the counter
blockade of Britain farther north
and west than ever before.
With that forthrightness which dis
tinguiSheS his periodical reports to
Parliament. Prime Minister Churchill
describes the gigantic task" now
imposed on the Royal Navy by the
new U-boat campaign, plus the de-
mandS involved in Mediterranean
war with Italy and Britain'S pledge
to do her utmost" to help Greece
in her unequal struggle with the
FascistS. Great Britain'S shipping
losses in this war are not yet so
great that her life lines are menaced
to the same extent, but the Prime
Minister does not conceal the gravity
of the situation. 1t is in this connec-
ton that he describes to the House
of Commons the timely value Of the
fifty average American destroyers
lust added to the British fleet; and
there is a hint that additional help
of the kind would be highly useful.
The Star believes that if our naval
authorities find it feasible to render
such assistance, it should be done
without delay. Obviously it is what
is now most needed.
No less urgent-perhapS more So
is British access to the Irish harbors
of Cobb Queenstown, Berehaven
and Tough Swilly. Debarred from
their use by the De Valera govern
ment'S refusal to abandon Fires
neutrality, Britain not only is handi-
capped by her inability to operate
against U-boats from Irish waters,
but faces the possibility that the
Nazis might venture to establish a
foothold in Fire for invasion of
England or Scotland. A Laborite
member of Parliament suggests that
because of Irish respect for Ameri-
can public opinion, sit is worth call
ing the attention Of the United
States to the price we are paying for
our principles is, British re-
luCtanCe to force the Dublin govern
ment to yield the important facilities
required, as Mr. Churchill points out,
ito protect the trade by which Ire
land as well as Britain lives"
The redoubtable Prime Minister
voices his faith that Britain will sur
mount the fresh menace she faces
at sea. Though the Warships which
fly the white ensign nominally
command" the waters which ring
British shores, unforeseeable condi-
tions, both III the Mediterranean and
in home waters, are imposing, in Mr..
Churchill's words, "a heavy and
grievous burden, and one which
should never have been placed on
our shoulders, broad though they
may be-" To the extent that the
Navy and State Departments Of the
United States can properly amelio-
rate the immediate plight in queS-
ton, they should not fail to act. Our
action might spell the difference be-
tween defeat or survival Of Britain,
and it would be taken in our own
long range interest.