Evening star., 1941-04-24
AII-Out Effort Held VitoI
Eliot Says U. S. Armed Forces Must Protect
Seo-Borne Supplies to Uphold Britain

America of Brltaln'S strategic posi-
ton in the North Atlantic Ocean,
which has resulted in the passage Of
the lease-lend bill, and the appro-
priation of $1,000, 100000 to effectu-
ate, under that bill, the manufacture
and supply of weapons and NUM-
tions to Britain.
1t remains to see that the goods
are delivered. 1t is no use being an
arsenal of democracy" if those
who are fighting for democracy
cannot get the weapons which the
arsenal produces.
The situation in this respect Is
one which must be of grave con-
Germ to all Americans as we'll as
to all BritonS. We have had it
demonstrated to us over and over
again, most recently in Greece and
Yugoslavia. that bravery and de-
votion are not enough, that modern
conditions of warfare demand
modern weapons and equipment.
This is wVr of men and machines;
without the men. the trained, dis
ciplined, determined men, the ma
chimes are useless: but without the
machines, the men are helpless.
All the dauntless courage of the
chivalry of France could not pre-
vail against the English arrow
shower at Crecy; the reckless brav-
cry and overwhelming numbers of
MonteZuma's hordes could not win
against CorteZ' little band of arm
ored and disciplined warriors, nor
could every advantage of terrain
enable the splendid fighting men
of Yugoslavia to defend their coud-
try against the armored spearheads
of the Wehrmacht. Nor. in the end,
will British hearts and British valor
be able to prevail against the on
slaught of Germany unless the
planes. the tanks. the guns, the
ammunition come in increasing flow
from the arsenals which the Luft-
waite cannot reach-the arsenals
of America.
British Partly to Blame.
We have not yet faced this situa-
ton frankly. For this, British Off
cialdom is in part to blame They
have not seen fit TO give us the
facts. They have maintained an
attitude of cheerful complacency.
they have CLOSED over the bad news
and emphasized the good, particu-
larly in the matter of shipping
losses. the crucial point of the whole
situation They have not given us
a properly proportioned and ac-
curate account of the real state of
affairs. The reasons given for this
are the need of keeping informa-
ton from the enemy, and of hold
Germans certainly know what their
raiders have accomplished. and
there has been no suggestion that
bad news can have any chance of
breaking down the magnificent
spirit of the British people.
The crux of the matter is the
tonnage actually available for the
transport OF vital cargo to Great
Britain. This is affected not only
by actual losses, but by tonnage laid
up due to injuries, in congested
and bomb-raided British shipyards.
There is good reason to believe that
the global figure Of available ton
mage already has sunk below the
safety point. American corre-
SpondentS who have access to off,
cial information on an "off the
record" basis cannot avoid being
struck by the contrast between the
situation as thus perceived and what
the American people generally seem
to think is the case.
1t can be said without hesitation
that If the present rate of sinkings
continues-or, as very likely, is &C
celerated-if no means is found of
better protecting the vital sea-
lanes of Great Britain, of reducing
shipyard congestion and increasing
the actual operating tonnage, there
is good reason to believe that Britain
may be compelled to sue for peace
before the year is out.
Such means can consist only Of
more warships for convoy escort,
more airplanes for patrol over the
all-important waters of approach