The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-04

"A OOlb6Q ETcSS COIlScAASuS VI Cu- itorial opinion revealed an over whelming newspaper support for the deal.
 Policing Pacific
 Administration officials believed today that the destroyers-for- bases trade with Great Britain frees the fleet for policing the pacific.
 StrategistS in military, naval and diplomatic affairs said western hem isphere defenses mad been enor- mously strengthened on the Allan tic side by:
 1. The pledge of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill that, even in event the British Isles are conquered by Germany, the British fleet will be neither surrendered nor scuttled
 2. The acquisition of air and naval bases from Newfoundland to the northern coast of South Amer ica which will, when developed, give this continent a defense line far out in the Atlantic. Within the area protected are the entire United States Atlantic coast, the Carib- bean Sea, Mexico, Central America, the Panama Canal, and the Main land approaches to the canal from the Atlantic coast of South Amer 1 ica.
 It was pointed out that so long as the British fleet dominates Eu- l hn nono1 the Straits of Gibraltar, no hostile fleet could conceivably approach the western hemisphere across the Atlantic ocean. With the develop ment of the newly acquired sea and air bases, and when these are equipped with men, guns and planes, no hostile force of less than full strength could possibly hope to break through the offshore forti- ficationS.
 Military and naval experts long have believed that airplanes car- ried by and based upon airplane carriers cannot cope with land based airplanes. Troop transports, even if supported by strong naval forces, could not hope to get through the string of off-shore Qualifications now planned, providing those forti- fications are given proper air strength, military experts declared.
 In the light of these conclusoins, some administration officials be- lieve the deal frees the United States hands, insofar as Atlantic defenses are concerned, for the immediate present, and permits this government to concentrate on the Pacific and the far east. Develop ments there have been of serious concern for some time to President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Cordell Hull.
 .. Fourteen of the destroyers in the swap for bsaes with Great Britain were due or already here today and Boston was understood to be the clearance port for all 50 ships when they leave for Canada.
 The Navy Department announced last night that eight of the over-age ships were at Boston navy yard and six others were enroute from Hamp- ton roads. The six reportedly were due about dawn but no confirmation of their arrival was obtainable.
 Two of the destroyers already here were in drydock for final check ups, but kept steam up and crews on hand. Four were seen to steam into the harbor, apparently from neutrality patrol. Navy yard officials declined to discuss detailS, but the presence of the destfoyers was easily ascertained since they have four tunnels each, whereas the newer destroyer have only two. Details to be completed here be- fore the destroyers are turned over were understood to include final checkups, drydocking if necessary, assembly of crews for the cruise to an undisclosed Canadian port and removal of crew-members' personal effects and all equipment not to be included in the transfer.
 The deStroyerS now in drydock are the 1200-ton type. Normally each carries complement of about 125 officers and men, but seafaring men believed much smaller crews would be assigned for teh trip to Canada.
 Need But Little
 It was said the recommisSioned destroyers need only fuel, supplies and ammunition to militarize them after the transfer.
 The six deStroyers enroute from Hampton roads sailed Monday. Un- til the presidents announcement they were travelling at moderate speed along the coast, taking turn at neutrality patrol. They were re- commissioned recently for neutrality patrol and were based at Hampton Roads as units of the Atlantic squad ron.
 Navy yards officials declined to disclose names or numbers of over age destroyers here or due. They said all such information would come from Washington, if at all.
 The 16 destroyers under construc- tion or authorized here will cost $6,- 100000 to $8,00O,00O each. They ap- pear huge in comparison with the average vessels, all built before 1922 and now estimated as worth about $1,7O0000 each.
 All of the older destroyers here have four-inch guns and 21-inch torpedo tubes of the same design as those used by the Royal Navy.
 They all have undergone com- plete overhauling and are said in many respects to equal the new des- troyerS. Gun crews of two of them won first honors in target practice several months ago. Names of the winning ceSSelS were withheld.