Imperial Valley press., 1941-05-07
War Debate RACES
As Cabinet Member
Asks Naval Action

Continued from Page One) =
Mich, made public a letter from
Chairman Emory S. Land of the
maritime commission disputing re-
ports that 40 per cent of British
aid Shipping is being sunk. Land
informed Vandenberg only eight of
205 vessels sailing for British ports
from the United States between Dec.
80 and April 80 had been sunk. His
figures showed only 159 vessels with
an aggregate tonnage of 781, ,914 had
been sunk in all parts of the world
in the first four months of this
year
Lands letter seemed to contradict
the belief prevalent here that the
axis blockade was sinking merchant
ships at the average rate of 5,000,-
900 tons a year. On the basis of
sinkings for the first four months
of 1941. the average annual rate OF
loss would be around 100000 tons.
OF the 158 vessels sunk in all the
seas during the first four months
of 1941, Land said only IL had
cleared the United States ports
Cargo reports on 10 of these II
vessels. however. showed they car
ried supplies urgently needed by the
British-canned soup, prunes. steel
plates. bars and billets, copper bars
and wire, zinc, wood pulp, chemicals.
ammunition, rifles. gun barrels. air.
plane engines and airplane parts.
Knox said Great Britain had
made general request" for furth-
er naval reinforcements in the shapo
of about lis small boats.
STIMSON ASKS ACTION
Stimson's sensational address
startled the capital because it was
by far the mosl direct summons
TO action yet heard from any Of
ficial in a position of comparable
responsibility, and because presi-
dental Secretary Stephen T. Early
said it should be assumed that
Stimson had talked TO the presi-
dent about the speech
Most emphasis was placed on
Stimson's declaration that the navy
was prepared to fight and that it
should be assigned Immediately to
an all out effort to guarantee de-
livery of our munitions to Great
Brita n. Stimson added that the
army and its air force still were
unprepared and would not be ready
to fight for at least year.
Stimson said
The axis has been steadily en-
circling our western world-its ad-
vance agents are already busy
among the republics to the south
of us, building strategic airlines
through vital portions of that con-
tinent and creeping up towards
our Panama cana:.
Lifeline THREATENED
ITS armed forces are threaten
ing west Africa. looking towards
jumping off place within easy reach
of the Brazilian coast. ~ prCN
gandlsts are already vigorously ac-
tive in our own population.
What are we going 10 do about
it?
The lifeline of Great Britain
is threatened The high water mark
of the Nazi effort is at hand in
the shape of an attack on the ship
ping which furnishes Britain with
the means and nourishment TO
MAINTAIN her battle.
Right now at this crossroads Of
history it is within our power if
we choose to use that instrument
Cthe navy to turn the tide of
darkness back from the Atlantic
world, and, while it is thus held in
check. to gain the means which will
preclude it forever from attaining
its fell purpose.
IF today the navy should make
secure the seas for delivery of our
munitions to Great Britain, it will
render as great d service to our
country and TO the preservation Of
American freedom as it has ever
rendered in all its glorious history
BLOOD SPILLING
A prelude TO StimSon's speech
one by Sen. Claude Pepper, D., Fla.
in the senate yesterday afternoon
asserting that Americans are ready
to spill their blood to defeat Ger
many - aroused nearly as much
comment. Peppers remarks were
of great significance in their own
right because he frequently has
been the bellwether of administra-
ton policy on aid TO the democra-
cies.
Close upon Peppers statement
that 80 modern bombing planes
with American pilots could make a