Evening star., 1941-09-12

to end it is clear. Mr.. Roose-
welt has done what two of his pred
ecessors in the presidency did.
John Adams, without consent OF
Congress. gave orders for the United
States Navy to sink, capture or
seize all armed French ships >.
Thomas jefferson, without Congress,
also gave an order to the Navy as
its commander in-chief when he
ordered the fleet to end the attacks
on American ships by the pirates of
North Africa.
Augusta (Gal Chronicle Qnde-
pendent-Democl-t-Hitler now has
clear understanding of the nature
of the provocation which will lead
this country into active war against
him. He knows the exact point at
which the green light changes to
red. If with his customary cynl-
cism he decides to force us into a
shooting war, the responsibility Will
be his, not ours.
st. Petersburg Fla.) Times Dem
ocrat)-Public reaction, we believe,
will fully sustain Mr.. Roosevelt IN
the bare -fiSted manner with which
he dealt with the totalitarian men
ace to the United States vessels on
the high seas. Thus Germany
and Italy are put on notice
henceforth We shoot first!
Boston Post tDemocrat-independ-
ent)-One matter which the Con-
gress might we'll consider is an in
vestigation of the Greer incident
since the President made 1t the out
standing cause of his address and
the resultant shooting order to the
Navy.
Boston Herald Republican)-The
United States is no nearer this
morning than it was yesterday to
participation as belligerant in an
all-out war against Germany. In
deed, the probability that we shall
become involved in unrestrained
hostilities against her seems less
than it was. The President did lit
tie more than to issue stern caveat
to Germany. He did not go nearly
so far as it was thought he would.
Worcester (Mass) Telegram CRe-
publican Whether or not one IS
disappointed in the speech, one
must approve his order to keep
German and Italian warships out
that order is inevitable The pres
ervation of our national safety and
| national honor demands it. If the
Germans and Italians disregard
this warning-it means war with the
United States.
Baltimore Sun independently Dem
ocraD-Mr. Roosevelt's speech last
! night was a grave and stern deflni-
ton of American policy which will
compel Herr Hitler to bow to the
United States in the North Allan
| tic-and in other areas-or to face
us in naval battle. The Sun be-
lieveS this declaration of American
policy to have been justified. We
believe it to be wise.
Richmond Va.) Times s-Dispatch
independent Democrat - Mr..
Roosevelt carried the United States
to the very brink of all-out shooting
war with the Axis last night, for
he apparently has ordered the
American Navy to fire on any Ger
man or Italian warship found in
the North Atlantic between this
country and Iceland or in the
South Atlantic between South
America and Africa. Obviously the
Navy now will shoot, if it sees an
4 Axis warship in any waters which
America deems vital to its defense,
for the mere presence OF such a
vessel constitutes an attack 1t is
high time that such orders were
issued. a.
Nashville Tennessean CDemocraO
In the face of unrestricted naval
warfare by the enemy of freedom
the policy laid down by Mr.. Roose-
velt is in the American tradition
1t reflects the convictions of realistic
and patriotic citizens. Instead
of writing notes America win use
that medium of expression by which
the totalitarians have torn the
world aSunder-force.
Hartford COurant Republican,
The long road down which the Ma
ton has travelled since the repeal
of the embargo nearly two years
ago is coming to an end. When the
Lease-Lend Act was adopted the
Nation declared its purpose to ac-
complish the defeat of Hitlerism
and the orders now given to the
Navy to shoot the warships of the
Axis on sight simply constitute
means to make the intention good.
That such purpose could hardly
be carried out without shooting was
pointed out at the time, and the
correctness of the prophecies ther
made is now borne out. The shoot
ing is at hand.
San Diego (CaIif.) Union (Repub-