Evening star., 1941-10-09


to keep the enemy at a distance un-
til help comes. In the case of an at
tack by air, they have at least q
chance to shoot down the enemy or
keep the enemy at such height that
1t cannot make a sure hit. If it is
submarine, the armed merchant ship
compels the submarine to use a tor
pedo while submerged-and many
topedoes thus 6red miss their mark.
The submarine can no longer rise to
the surface within a few hundred
yards and sink the merchant ship
by gunfire at its leisure.
Already We take many precautions
against the danger of mines-and 1t
seems somewhat incongruous that we
have authority today to "degauss'
our ships as a protection against
mines, whereas we have no au-
thority to arm them in protection
against aircraft or raiders or sub
marines.
The arming of our ships is a
matter of immediate necessity and
extreme urgency. 1t Is not more
important than some other crippling
provisions in the present act, but
anxiety for the safety of our crews
and of the almost priceless goods
that are within the holds of our
ships leads me to recommend that
you, with all speed. strike the pro-
hibition against arming our ships
from the statute books.
Urges That U. S. Stop
playing Into Hitler's Hands,"
There are other phases of the
Neutrality Act to the correction Of
which I hope the Congress will give
earnest and early attention. One
of these provisions is of major i'm
portance. I believe that it is essen
tial to the proper defense of Our
country that we cease giving the
definite assistance which we are
now giving to the aggressors. For,
in effect, we are inviting their con-
troll of the seas by keeping cur ships
out of the ports of our own friends.
1t is time for this country to stop
playing into ,Hitlers hands, and to
unshackle our own.
A vast number of ships are slid
ing into the water from American
shipbuildings ways. We are lending
them to the enemies of Hitlerism
and they are carrying food and sup
plies and munitions to belligerent
ports in orderst to Withstand Hitler's
juggernaut. q
Most of the vital goods authorized
by the Congress are being delivered.
Yet many of them are being sunk;
and as we approach full production
requiring the use of more ships now
being built it, will be increasingly
necessary to deliver American goods
under the American flag.
We cannot, and should not, de-
pend on the strained resources of
the exiled nations of Norway and
Holland to deliver our goods nor
should we be forced to masquerade
American-owned ships behind the
flags of our sister republics.
I earnestly trust that the Congress
will carry out the true intent of
the Lend-Lease Act by making it
possible for the United States to
help to deliver the articles to those
who are in position effectively to
use them. In other words, I ask for
congressional action to implement
congressional policy. Let us be con-
sistent.
Secs ~. s. Duty" to Help
Britain and Russia Swiftly.
sIwould not 60 back to the earlier
days when private traders could
gamble with American life and
property in the hope Of personal
gain and thereby enbroil this coun-
try in some incident in which the
American public had no direct in
terest. But today, under the con-
trols exercised by the Government,
no ship and no cargo can leave the
United States save on an errand
which has first been approved by
governmental authority. And the
test Of that approval is whether the
expectation will promote the defense
vi IIle UHlteO STATES.
cannot impress too strongly
upon the Congress the seriousness
of the military situation that con-
fronts all of the nations that are
combating Hitler.
We would be blind to the realities
If we did not recognize that Hitler
is determined to expend all the re-
sources and all the mechanical force
and man power at his command to
crush both Russia and Britain. He
knows that he is racing against
time. He has heard the rumblings
of revolt among the enslaved peo-
ples-including the Germans and
Italians. He fears the mounting
force of American aid. He knows
that the days In which he may
achieve total victory are num-
bered.
Therefore, it Is our duty, as never
before, to extend more and more
O oeeicforro aud avnp ,,.nrn ~u,;ftJ,,