Evening star., 1941-07-12
B. TIE kssocIated Press.

By tte Associated Press.
Immediate withdrawal of British
troops from Iceland 10 forestall a
possible NaZl attack which would
place American marines ard sailors
there under fire was demanded
today by Senator Bone. Democrat.
Of Washington, a member OF the
Naval Affairs Committee.
Describing the Joint occupation
of Iceland by American and British
forces as "fraught with danger"
Senator Bone asserted that II
United States troops were 10 take
over the British ought TO get out
at once.
"As long as the British are there"
he told reporters. the Germans
have the right under rules of war
fare TO attack Iceland. If they did
our troops either would have to
fight back or become innocent by
ISLANDERS who might be shot down.
IF we are TO be presented with
the issue Of an attack on those
troops it ought not TO be con-
fused issue such as would be raised
by Joint occupation with the British.
The sooner British troops can be
withdrawn the better it will be
for US
Committee Holds Closed Session.
Views similar to those expressed
by Senator Bone were reported to
have been aired in closed session
OF the. Naval Affairs Committee
yesterday. when - reliable sources
Secretary Knox and Admiral
Harold R. Stark denied published
reports that the Navy had engaged
in combat with German naval units
or that II was being used 10 escort
British merchantmen IN the Allan
tic.
One administration supporter was
reported 10 have told Secretary
Knox that he believed the British
should be asked to withdraw and
the Secretary of the Navy was said
to have agreed 20 communicate this
viewpoint TO the President.
Senator Pepper, Democrat. OF
Florida. who is not member of
the Naval Affairs Committee. said
it was his understanding that the
British we're planning to take their
troops out as soon as American
forces of sufficient strength to de-
fend the island were landed.
This was the general congressional
Interpretation of President Roose-
velts message outlining the invi-
tation OF the Icelandic government
to the United States to take over
defenseS there, but several Senators
cited a recent speech of Prime Min
lister Churchill in Parliament as
indicating that some British units
would remain.
Broadcast Reports Withdrawal.
The National Broadcasting
Co.'S short-Wave listeners in New
York last night heard a report.
on the same frequency as that
regularly used by the British
radio, declaring the first British
contingent stationed in Iceland
had returned to England. In
London. however, the British
radio declared it knew of no
such broadcast. and military cir
cles there called the report most
improbable
From London today came re-
ports that persons returning from
Iceland had seen United States
Army officers there as early as
mid-May. perhaps the vanguard
of the occupational forces. Berlin
repeated its claims today that
the American occupation is de-
signed to precipitate outright
participation of this nation in
the war.
Zone Senator. not a member
of the Naval Affairs Committee.
told reporters that Secretary
Knox had testified that an
American destroyer on one oc-
casion had dropped depth
charges where it believed a Ger
man submarine was sighted. The
incident Was said tc have oc-
CURED during rescue of Survivors
from torpedoed British ship.
tOther reports out of the
closed hearings said that the
Secretary had testified that sew
eral American vessels have been
n