Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-28

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l. surface. however, the dis
crepancy narrows sharply.
One inch below. officials are
saying off the record the ex-
pansion of patrols is part of a
modern substitute for convoy
ing. The old system has been
found obsolete.
The British have been meet
ing with our officials here lately,
particularly our naval experts,
and have worked out a new ship
ping scheme.
London is going to follow the
advice and experience of our
navy. converting several fast
merchantmen into auxiliary air.
craft carriers by construction of
landing decks. Enough planes
will be carried to fight German
bombers on the convoy spot. At
least one such ship will accom-
pany conveys along with a sur
face destroyer and a corvette.
AS HAS already been an
"A nounced, fast m r ant
ships will go across singly
slower vessels being grouped
according to speed in conveys.
This should take care of the
German threat to shipping.
Mr.. Roosevelts action would
furnish eyes for this new system.
AS interpreted specifically here.
American fighting ships would
scout the seven seas for threats
against this hemisphere" Wher-
ever an Axis vessel is sighted,
whether headed toward America
or not, they will inform the
British as well as Mr.. Roosevelt.
In the semiofficial interpreted
ton, Mr.. Roosevelt is setting
up a world spotting system, not
only to defend this hemisphere
but to help the British get our
goods across, and in ultimate
purpose to defeat the Axis.
DEEPER down On authentic
Dprivate official comment
there is reason to believe the
action reaches even further to
the extreme to which Mr.. Knox
pointed, namely, that we are
ready to fight.
The orders to our scouting
patrols have not been divulged.
but one report from an official
quarter suggests their behavior
is to be much stronger than
merely reporting any time they
see an Axis vessel.
There is reason to believe they
may-if occasion demands-in-
tervene themselves between any
spotted Axis ships and any Brit
ish merchant ship carrying our
goods to Britain; they will not
fire first, but may fire back if
attacked.
At this point the discrepancy
vanishes. What Mr.. Roosevelt
has done becomes precisely what
NIessrs. Knox and Hull recon-
mended in their speeches (which
FDR read before they were de-
Gvered).
If this Interpretation is verb
fled by future developments on
the high seas, the expansion of
the sea patrol really constitutes
a dare to Germany to fire the
first shot.
EXECUTIVE mirrors here re-
~ fleet the grimnesS of these
unofficial interpretations, but
most administration congress
sional leaders prefer the milder
official possibilities. Even those
Senate Democratic leaders who
are opposed to going to war
have been somewhat placated
by what they have heard in
councils as to Mr.. Roosevelt's
new determination to refrain
from actual conveying or direct
involvement in the conflict.
Among them the view is COM
mon that Mr.. Roosevelt is
really working their way and,
therefore. should not be harassed
or questioned too much on de-
tail. The hemisphere defense
motif suits them.
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