Evening star., 1941-04-26
Petrol
Continued From First Page.)

then having them go to the bottom
of the ocean"
Senator Hill expressed the view
that the use of conveys would not
mean at all that we would send an
expeditionary force abroad" He
said there was now no place to land
an expeditionary force in Europe
and added: Our problem is to sup
ply the British-why send additional
men over there to be suppliedP"
At his press conference yesterday,
President Roosevelt said American
naval patrols would be operated
anywhere in the seven seas neces-
sary for the protection of the West
ern Hemisphere.
Naval experts expected this action
would enable the British to release
a number of warships from convoy
duty out of Western Hemisphere
ports.
Functions Little Changed.
Mr.. Roosevelt indicated that the
functions of the neutrality patrol
have not been substantially changed
by its more extended duties. He
compared it with the scout system
which wagon trains once used on
Western prairies to warn of danger.
Asked if the patrol would warn other
wagon trains, he replied that all
kinds of wagon trains would be
warned.
Such a scout system at sea might
discourage attacks on shipping
through destruction of the raiders
secrecy of movement. Asked what
would happen if an American naval
vessel encountered hostile warcraft,
the President replied only that he
would be notified. He carefully
avoided connecting the patrol ex-
tension with aid to Britain.
There thus was no official hint
as to what action a patrol ship
would take If it found British con-
voy being attacked by a German
raider
Axis Threat to Greenland.
President Roosevelt also spoke
yesterday of the possibility that axis
forces might be in Greenland-and
answered affirmatively when asked
whether the United States was do
ing anything about it.
Mr.. Roosevelt and the Danish
Minister to the United States
signed an agreement last month I'M
der which this country is permit
ted to establish bases on the Arc
tic island and otherwise take 1t
under protection,
Mr.. Roosevelt told reporters he
was not at all satisfied that part of
Greenland was not occupied by the
axis, but added he would not say
positively that this was so. He Of
fered no clues on the nature of the
occupying force except to reply
negatively when asked whether fifth
columnists were involved.
Some defense experts suggested
that U-boat bases in the remote, al
most hidden fjords, were possible;
from those bases, where axis sub
marines could be fueled, their crews
rested and batteries charged, sallies
could be made south to the great
ClTClC COul sc VI DI DIltdlIl-UOuIlu luc1
chantmen.
Huge Shipping Losses.
The Presidents announcement
conceded with the release of figures
by the Commerce Department on
the speed with which British, Allied
and neutral ships are being sent
to the bottom.
The total of these losses since
the war began until the end of
March was placed at 5,400,000 gross
tons, as compared with 100000
tons sunk from the time the Ger
mans started unrestricted submarine
warfare in February, 1917, until the
end of the World War.
British, Allied and neutral ship
ping losses last month, the Com
merce Department said, were 394,-
600 gross tons, a figure exceeded in
only three previous months in this
| war.
Should the President care to
amplify the reason for placing the
neutrality patrol on an elastic basis,
two speeches scheduled in the next
eight days might afford him an op-
portunity. He will speak here We'd
nesday. inaugurating the drive for
sale of defense bonds. On Sunday,
May 4, he is to deliver an address
at the dedication of the restored
birthplace of Woodrow Wilson at
Staunton, Va.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota contended the Presidents
statement regarding patrols would
strengthen growing demands for
legislation to prevent conveying"
Legislation May "Slumber."
The Senate Foreign Relations
Committee will consider such legis-
lation next Wednesday, However,
Senator Connally, Democrat, of
Texas, predicted the group would
vote to let the proposal "slumber
awhile"
| Senator McCarran, Democrat, OF
/ Nevada, shared Senator Nye's view
that expanded patrol activities would
lead to conveys. and added: I'VE