Evening star., 1941-04-07
Munitions Rushed
To YugosIavs by U. s.;
Blitz Called Barbaric
Nations Vessels Now in
American Ports Expected
To Transport Supplies
Rr the Associated Press

Sible
Indications were that these mu-
nitions would be started across the
Atlantic, probably in Yugoslav YES
sells now in American ports. either
today or by midWeek at the latest.
The administration is understood
to have been preparing for several
days against the hour when Ger
many would launch her Balkan
blitZkrieg.
Included in the shipments May
be the 75-millimeter guns which
President Roosevelt said last week
would be sent to Greece, as we'll
as machine guns, mortars, ammu-
nltior bombs and other supplies
drawn from the stores of the United
States Army.
Medical Supplies Ordered.
In addition to these implements
OF war, more than sl,0000 900 worth
of medical supplies were ordered
sent to Yugoslavia Chairman Nor
man H. Davis directed the Red
Cross to furnish without delay"
10 field hospitals. tons of medi-
cines and blankets and an initial
shipment of 100000 surgical
dressings.
Aircraft were not expected to be
included in the munitions ship
ments since Britain's r. A. F.
already is operating in the Balkan
area and has been receiving Amer
1can planes. More than 100 P-4O
fighters have been sent to British
squadrons through the West African
port of Bathurst in the last two
months.
Later at press conference, Sec
retary OF State Hull said that
Russia's signing of new friendship
pact with Yugoslavia made clear
that an increasing number of ma
tions have become aware of the
world nature of the axis drive for
conquest.
BY implication, the Secretarys
comment indicated a belief that the
Soviet government realized. despite
It's non-a aggression pact with Ger
many, that eventual Nazi aims
might be dangerous to Russia.
Mr.. Hull was asked at his press
conference for his reaction to the
announcement yesterday that Rus
sla and Yugoslavia had signed
hve-year treaty pledging each
nation to a policy of neutrality and
StrlcteSt friendship in the event one
OF them is attacked. The announce
ment coincided with the beginning
OF the German-Italian assault on
Yugoslavia
Pact Called Encouraging.
Secretary Hull described the
treaty as encouraging because it
makes clear that. as the forces of
invasion move further across the
earth, an increasing number of ma
t1ons are made acutely aware of the
world nature of this movement of
conquest for purposes of domination
OF peoples everywhere by military
force.
Mr.. Hull also said he considered
important statement by French
Chief of State Marshal Petain in a
radio address today that French
honor forbade any action against
Frances former allies, but that he
wanted to reserve comment until
the matter was confirmed.
First official reaction to Ger
manys dawn attack yesterday came
In a statement from Secretary Hull
assuring Yugoslavia of all possible
assistance. Since the Government
already has announced such a policy
for Greece, Mr.. Hull. fresh from a
conference with President Roose-
velt, directed his declaration chiefly
to the newest victim of the Euro
pean war.
The barbaric invasion of Yugo-
slavla and the attempt to an
n1hilate that country by brute force"
he said, lis but another chapter in
the present planned movement of
attempted world conquest and domi-
nation"
Sympathy Expressed.
He asserted that the American
people have the greatest sympathy
for the nation which has been thus
so outrageously attacked" and he
added:
This Government with it's policy
OF helping those who are defending
themselves against would-be con-
querors is now proceeding as speedily
as possible to send military and
other supplies to YugosIavia."
simultaneously the Government
moved to provide such assistance as
1t could to American citizens in the
embattled country. The total of
these could not be determined i'm
mediately officials said, but more
than 1000 were reported to be in
Belgrade alone.
Mr. Hull directed Arthur Bliss
Lane, the United States Minister. to
remain with the Yugoslavian gov
ernment whether it stayed in Bel
grade or moved to some provisional
capital. but he. ordered the Leea-
ton in Belgrade kept open at all
times to take care of Americans who