Evening star., 1941-03-24
EVENING STAR WASHINGTON D. C., MONDAY, a.
British Heavy Cruiser
Reported Heading for
Norfolk for Repairs
Embassy Official Hints
Any Such Plans Wait
Approval Of Aid Funds
Ey the Associated Press.

Ey lne Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, March 24.--The
Baltimore Sun said today that
authoritative sources reported a
British warship heading toward the
Norfolk (Va0 Navy Yard for repairs.
The paper said these sources did
not disclose the name of the ship,
but classed the vessel as a heavy
cruiser drawing too much water to
be handled at shipyards here.
One Official at the Norfolk yard
said when informed of the report,
that he had no confirmation of such
arrangements.
The first report of a British war;
ship near American waters came last
night in a radio broadcast from
Rome.
Reported ShelIed by Sub.
1t said a "10.000-ton British de-
stroyer" named the London had been
tOWed into the American port of
Chester badly in need of repairs"
as a result of a clash with a German
submarine. No other details were
given.
Jane's Fighting Ships lists a
9850ton British warship London,
but Classics it as a CruiSer.)
The British freighter Narragansett
sailed Saturday. from Chester. Pa,
where it arrived a week ago for re-
pairs and war cargo. Crew mem
bers said the vessel had been shelled
by submarine.
At Philadelphia, COmdr D. D.
Mercer, Admiralty attache of the
British Consulate, said he had heard
'rumors" that a damaged British
cruiser would put into Norfolk for
repairs within three or four weeks" "
Comdr. Mercer said the port of
Chester might easily refer" to
Chester, Nova Scotia, instead of
Chester, Pa.
Rear Admiral H Pott, naval at
tache of the British Embassy at
Washington, said last night that he
knew Of no British Warship coming
to this country for repairs in the
near future" He indicated that no
such plans were likely to be made
until after enactment of the S7000.-
100000 appropriation bill for the
leaSe-lend program.
Administration leaders were hope
full that Congress would pass the
bill by tonight.
The Sun said yards along the
Atlantic Coast generally had been
surveyed sometime ago by an eX-
amlnlng board of high-ranking
Navy officials with view to ascer-
training what repair work could be
handled for the British Navy.
The sun said it had no definite
information the cruiser reported en-
route TO Norfolk had been damaged
in battle, adding:
The local yards are in a posi-
ton to care for seasonal and
periodic repairs to British naval
craft quickly.
Transfers Predicted.
The indications are that the first
craft to be repaired here are even
now on their way across the At
lantic serving as escorts of conveys
moving light to American ports to
pick up munitions of war.
Moreover. the arrival here of Brit
ish Warships will be the signal for
the speeding of the transfer of
American naval vessels for replace
ments
1T is said that crews from the
ships undergoing repairs will be
transferred Immediately TO the
American war craft made available
to the British.
The craft of the ROYAL Navy are
described as having taken bad beat
ings of late, with enforced runs at
high speed and continuous escort
duty; the wear and tear has been
much greatert han in normal opera
tions.