Evening star., 1941-09-12

reLtS address last night:
In spite of what Hitler's propa-
ganda bureau has invented and
in spite of what any American
obstructionist organization may
prefer to believe, I will tell you
the blunt fact that the German
submarine fired first upon this
American destroyer (the Greer
without warning, and with de-
liberate intent to sink her.
This was piracy-legaliy and
morally. 1t was not the first nor
the last act of piracy which the
Nazi government has committed
against the American flag in this
war. Attack has followed attack.
1t is the Nazi design to abolish
the freedom of the seas. For
with control of the seas in their
own hands the way can become
clear for their next step-dom-
ination of the United States and
the Western Hemisphere by force.
1t must be explained again and
again to people who like to think
of the United States Navy as
invincible that this can be true
only If the British Navy sur
wives. That is simple arithmetic.
1t is time for all Americans
of all the Americas to stop being
deluded by the romantic notion
that the Americas can go on
living happily and peacefully in
NaZi-dominated world.
force. Under Nazi control of the
seas, no merchant ship OF the
United States or of any other
American republic would be free
to carry on any peaceful COM
merce, except by the condescend-
ing grace of this foreign and ty-
rannical power. The Atlantic
Ocean which has been, and which
should always be, a free and
friendly highway for us would
then become a deadly menace to
the commerce of the United
States, and to the inland cities
of the United States.
The Hitler government, in
defiance of the laws of the sea
and Of the recognized rights of
all other nations, has presumed
to declare, on paper, that great
areas of the SeaS-even includ-
ing a vast expanse lying in the
Western Hemisphere-are to be
closed, and that no ships may
enter them for any purpose, ex-
cept at peril of being sunk.
Actually they are sinking ships
at will and without warning in
widely separated areas both with
in and far outside of these far-
flung pretended zones.
This Nazi attempt to seize con-
counterpart of the Nazi plots
now being carried on throughout
the Western Hemisphere - all
designed toward the same end.
For Hitler's advance guards
not only his avowed agents but
also his dupes among us-haVe
sought to make ready for him
notholds and bridgeheads in the
New World, to be used as soon
as he has gained control OF the
oceans
His intrigues, his plots, his
Vaccinations, his sabotage in
this New World are all known to
the Government of the United
States. Conspiracy has followed
conspiracy.
Survival of British Navy
Called Vital to United States.
Last year a plot to seize the
government of Uruguay was
smashed by the prompt action OF
that country, which was sup
ported in full by her American
neighbors. A like plot was then
Matching in Argentina, and that
government has carefully and
wisely blocked it at every point.
More recently, an endeavor was
made to subvert the government
of Bolivia. Within the past few
weeks the discovery was made OF
secret air landing fields in Co.
lombia, within easy range OF the
Panama Canal. l could multiply
instances.
To be ultimately successful IN
world mastery, Hitler knows that
he must get control of the seas.
He must first destroy the bridge
of ships which we are building
across the Atlantic, over which
we shall continue to roll the I'M
plements of war to help destroy
him and all his works in the end.
He must wipe out our patrol on
sea and in the air. He must
silence the British navy.
1t must be explained again and
again to people who like to think
of the United States Navy as an