The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-09-13
ARE WE READY7

sight declaration in behalf OF nee
dom Of the seas has set off a fusil-
lade of controversy throughout the
world
German policy will be 10 sink all
ships carrying supplies 10 the en-
smy-a pledge made many times
by Adolf Hitler. The German press
attacked the speech before il was
delivered. Its text was not printed
in Berlin hut England has had the
speech on the air almost constantly
In an effort 10 reach all Europeans.
Japan and Italy had things to
say. and said them. The Japan
Times and Advertiser, official or
gan OF the foreign office, disputes
President Rooseyelts claim thai
Germany's Submarine warfare con-
stitutes piracy.
The sinking OF ships by sub
marines is certainly not piracy
the paper says. The Germans have
not made any profit out of sub
marine warfare 1t has been an ex-
pcnsiye business in lives and in
vestments."
Gayda. Premier Mussolinis jour
nalistic spokesman. declares in the
Giornale Italia that Axis warships
will shoot first if confronted by ag-
gressiye American naval action.
spain, too, has something to say.
The Madrid newspaper. ABC, pre-
diets fresh and serious compiled
tons and declares that the last
fiction Of neutrality has been aban-
doned.
American newspspe comment in
general is favorable and England is,
o course. delighted. In way OF re-
view it is interesting 10 note the
major steps taken blythe United
States since the war began two
years ago
Sept. 5. 1939-President Roose-
veit proclaimed limited national
emergency
Sept l939-Western Hemisphere
neutrality zone proclaimed by Amer
lean nations in conference at
Panama
NOV. 1939-Neutrality Act amend
ed TO permit export 10 belligerents
OF munitions. war supplies and
airplanes on cash-and-carry basis.
May l940-Congress authorized
transfer to other nations-Great
Britain in this instance-of 1l6 gov
eminent owned vessels which had
been laid up since World War.
June l940-C. S. Army and Navy
aircraft and other munitions were
releas ed to manufacturers for i'm
mediate delivery 10 Britain in ex-
change fo- credits.
Aug. III Canadian United
States joint defense agreement an
nounced
Sept. 194o-50 destroyers trans.
ferred 10 Britain in exchange for
naval and air base leases in West
ern Hemisphere.
March II, 1941-Lend-lease Act
approved.
March 80, 1941-Danish. Italian
and German merchant vessels in
American waters seized
May Is. 194l-French ships. IN
Guiding Normandie, placed under
protective custody.
May q. 1941-President Roose-
welt proclaimed unlimited national
emergency.
June IA, 1941-President Roose
welt froze all Italian and German
fends in the United States.
July 7. 1941-President Roose-
welt announced occupation by L. S
naval forces Of Iceland
Aug IA. 194l-It was announced
that President Roosevelt and Win
ston Churchill had met at sea and
agreed on an eight-point post war
policy
Aug 10. l94l-Russia was prom
ised all possible aid in a joint Roose
velt-Churchill statement.
Sept. !. 194l-President Roose
welt announced in Labor Day speech
that we must more greatly safe
guard war supplies to those resist
ing Hitler.
Sept II. 194l-President Roose
welt revealed that the Navy has
been ordered to shoot on sight any
Axis vessels in American defense
waters.
Today we await development
which may throw US completely
into the war. as we entered th;
previous war Feb, 3, 1917, less thar
three years after It started II
Europe, in July. 1914.
The Presidents statement tina
he has ordered the Army. as vel
as the Navy. to keep American de
Tense waters clear of hostile ship.
might indicate plans to send an ex
peditionary force abroad Whethe
he could make such a move withou
going TO Congress for a declaration
OF war is questionable, but accord
ing to Sen. Pat McCarran, Nevada
Democrat. the President has prac
tically declared war and so exceed
cd his power. II be Is acting IN
eonstitutionally and without au
thority now, he may 20 farther. Il
fact there seems to be no cours
but TO 90 the whole way One en-
gagement after another is quit
likely to lead US into action. 70
the present We are pretty well int
the war even though there has bee
no official declaration.
There may be no congressiona
declaration. Japan hasn't declare
war on China. but there has bee
lot OF fighting In the Orient Gu
most important consideration
not so much the technical deta
OF declaration as Il is the need 70
more speed in orderly preparation
We know we are dangerously nea
war, but are We ready? We ar
pretty we'll agreed that Hitle
should be beaten but we haven
been as well agreed as we shoul
be on the need for nationwide Ct
operation IN the business Of prepa