The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-08

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 1t was pointed out that American fighter planes might now fly to Britain via Newfoundland, Green- land and Iceland instead of coming here by ship.
 Biggest Newg oR Day
 The occupation. which authcrita- tive sources called big and welcome news, swept the Russo-G German war from prominent positions in the newspapers here.
 In oflcial and unofficial quarters, the American move was called one of the most important events in some time, and 1t was welcomed as relieving British military and naval forces and as increasing the security of shipments of American materials to Britain.
 ''U. s. Occupies Iceland to Stop Hitler;s Coup" Roosevelt Lands Troops in Iceland" United States Occupies Iceland to Rush Arms to Britain" and United States Takes Over Iceland and Greenland" were typical headlines which the news papers blazoned across their first pages.
 It was said in reliable quarters that British troops would remain temporarily in Iceland but would be withdrawn gradually for service in other theatres.
 The United States kept Britain informed at all stages of its ar- engagements for the dispatch of troops to Iceland.
 British forces had occupied Ice land without incident May 10, 1940. The Iceland parliament had severed the union with Denmark after the German invasion of Denmark, and Sveinn Bjornsson, former Iceland minister at Copenhagen, had been made regent June IT. The parlia- ment had voted for a republic after the war.
 Italy Talks Of Iceland
 Rome, July B. (UP) ' Respon- sible Italian quarters today termed United States occupation of Ice land an actual intervention" in European waters and said 1t prob- ably would result in American incidents because it would not cause the Axis to relax its blockade of the British Isles.
 The purpose of the occupation, they asserted, was to create a vast zone in which vessels carrying sup- plies for Britain could navigate safe- ly and, in effect, amounted to actual conveying since it would bring the United States navy into the German blockade area.
 The "so-called" American safety belt, they observed, started as a 300- mile zone and then expanded to H. 250 miles, although this was con trary to all concepts of international law"
 The occupation, they declared, will be considered as another extension of the safety belt, but rather as "ac- tual intervention in European wa ters."
 For First Time
 This is the first time the United States actually has occupied terri tory regarded as being part of Eu- rope, these quarters said, and brings the United States closer to conflict with the Axis powers than ever be- fore.
 Responsible quarters said Pres- ident Roosevelt had assumed grave responsibility for future events by Interfering in the blockade 1one'' and asserted Germany and Italy had made it clear that they regarded Iceland as part of the Axis counter blockade area against Britain.
 Occupation of Iceland, they said, could in no way be construed as be. ing aimed to prevent invasion of the Western Hemisphere" since "tne Axis has no intention of invading It."
 The United States move was not a surprise, 1t was said. High quarters said it was foreshadowed in Pres- ident Roosevelt's May 28 speech in which he referred to possible oc- cupation of strategic points in con- nection with freedom of the seas.
 Naxi Silent Just Now
 Berlin, July 8 = (U.P.) = Author. iSed German spokesmen declined to- day for the time being to comment on United States occupation of Ice land, explaining they had received no instructions yet regarding Ger man reaction"
 They said official reaction might possibly be available later in the day. The German press refrained from making any comment or even publishing news of the United States move.
 What Gayda Says
 Rome, July 8-(UP)-Virginio GaydA, Italian editor, asserted to- day that landing of American forces on the European continent would ''be all that is necessary defi- nitely to thrust the United States into the catastrophe"
 Gayda's comment came as Italian quarters claimed that American oc- cupation of Iceland constituted "ac- tual intervention" of America in European waters and suggested it would result in sea incidents be- tween the United States and Axis forces.
 "On the European continent" Gayda said, "the Americans and British would face the joint forces of the Axis, aided by other asSoci- ated powers"
 Tokyo, June 8 S-- (UP) = Quali- fled Japanese observers regard Uni- ted States occupation of Iceland as an indication of United States read- mess to meet German attacks, the Japanese Domei News Agency re- ported today.
 They were quoted as saying that the possibility of war between the United States and Germany loomed larger now than before.