Evening star., 1941-09-16

dent ROOSeVelC WAS tIe cAplcSScu
belief of naval strategists, who said
that adequate protection meant
conveys. This was true, they de-
clared. because raiders may slip
through the most effective patrols
and Warship escorts constitute the
only certain way Of affording pro-
lection to all ships at the crucial
moment of attack.
To carry out its new task the At
lantio Fleet was believed to have
substantially in excess OF the lbs
vessels, including three old battle
ships, which we're assigned to it
when it was created more than a
year ago. The battleships are the
Texas, flagship of Admiral Ernest
J. King; the New York and the
Arkansas.
For many months this fleet. in
creased steadily by the addition of
vessels newly built and probably
also by transfers from the Pacific,
has been patrolling the North At
lantic under orders to watch for and
report the position Of hostile craft.
Planes of the feet air arm have
ocean.
Institution of American patrols
released some British wgarships for
badly needed duty in the home
waters of the British Isles where
German attacks have been heaviest,
and in recent months British ship
losses have declined steadily.
Now as the American Navy shoul-
derS the full job, it is expected that
still more British ships will be made
available for service in the stretch
between Iceland and British ports.
so that the vital bridge of ships
all the way from United States and
Canadian ports into Britain will be
greatly strengthened.
Biddles Opinion.
The ruling affecting the use of
American merchantmen to carry
munitions to certain British possess
sions was rendered by Mr.. Biddle at
the request of the State Depart
ment.
| The Presidents proclamation of
1889 recognized state of war ex-
listing between Germany and
the United Kingdom, India. Aus
tralia, Canada, New Zealand and
the Union of South Africa" The
State Departments inquiry was
whether the proclamation and its
shipping restrictions applied to the
entire British Empire or only to
those portions enumerated.
Mr.. Biddle held that the procla-
nation applied only to the por-
tions enumerated and that the
term UNITED Kingdom could not
be construed as including overseas
possessions.
The State Department said that
this means American ships could
transport munitions to such parts
Of the empire as British East At
rica. including Kenya Colony and
British Somaliiand; British West
Africa. Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Alden
and Perrin. near the Arabian coast
and Sokotra, at the moutr- of the
Red Sea.
Also to Labrador, Newfoundland
British West Indies. British Hon.
duras, Bermuda, British Guiana
and the Falkland Islands In the
Western Hemisphere and the Fiji
Islands and others owned by Britain
in the Pacific.
Also the Federated Malay States
where the Singapore base is To-
Gated; Burma. Malaga, the Strait,
Settlements, British North Borneo
Brunei and Sarawak.
The Navy announced, meanwhile
that every naval vessel authorized
by law had been contracted for ''ir
the creation of the greatest array o1
fighting ships under one flag tn,
world has ever seen"
1t disclosed also that two of thu
six new 35.000-ton battleships-tht
North Carolina and the Washing.
ton-had been added to the battle
line this month as the first capita
ship additions to go into the service
with the fleet since 1923. This give.
the United States II battleships il
actual service.
! Another s8O,OO0,O 900 dreadnaught
the South Dakota. was launched IL
June, but has not yet been com.
miSsioned, and one week from TODAY
fourth new battleship, the Massa
chusetts, will hit the water a.
Quincy, Mass
A survey of vessels building anc
contracted for reveals astounding
progress" in accelerated construc
ton of the two-ocean Navy, tn,
Navy said.
A total of 2,831 ships-comba
vessels and auxiliaries-has beer
ordered since January /, 1910, at
cost of S7.234262,178. In addition
$3.50, 10000 has been allocated fo
the expansion of public and privat,
shipbuilding facilities. The contrac
figures do not include small boats o.
lease-lend contracts.
Besides newly constructed vessels
the Navy this year has converted t,
military use 1913 privately owne,
ships for the constantly growing
fleet of auXiliaries, such as hospita
ships, store ships, oilers, supply an,
repair vessels. Eighty-one othe
vessels are now undergoing conver
sion. Most of this work is bein,
| handled in 110 nrivafe shioyo ride