The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-11-11
REUBEN JAMES
LIVE PAWN To
NAH FEUHRER
SINKING OF AMERICAN DE-
STROYER OF IMMENSE
STRATEGIC VALUE IN
WORLDWIDE MOSAIC WAR
By MORGAN N. BEATTY
AEB Feature Service Writer

WASHINGTON, Nov Ito
Americans, the ReuOen James Is
a tragic hulk lying on the floor
Of the North Atlantic ocean, but
to Adolf Hitler and his strateg-
ISIS, the destroyer Is a i've pawn
of immense strategic value N
the world-flung mosaic Of war.
That's the considered opinion
OF observers here
The principal value Of the
sinking 70 Hitler IS the posi-
blIity-conceded on all sides
that It brings Us closer to and
actual declaration Of var.
A declaration Of war On our
part should help Hitler now. Il
should HEP him next Spring Il
should help him more than any
strategy he could possibly plan
and carry out himself
a declaration would impose
On the President the pressing
duty Of conserving all defense
materials for the use OF our own
naval and military forces
This means the President
might have to cut down lend
lease an 70 the Russians If re
failed to do this he would be
running dangerous risks. Sup-
pose, for instance. that we should
declare var. and our forces
should suffer reverses- The CIV
would 60 up that We had sent
our Own men helpless against
the enemy. Whether the charge
would be accurate Is beside the
point
Consider also the fact that
most military observers are
leaning 70 the belief that Hitler
cannot annihiIate the Russian
armies this Winter. He'll have
70 carry on unit. Spring. and then
try 70 deliver the coup de grace
he supposedly held poised a few
weeks ago when he told the
world the Russian armies were
whipped Joseph Goebbels. the
German propaganda chief. bears
out the strategIsts- He has off
ciaIlv notified the German peo-
pie they can expect another
tough winter.
II the United States should de-
clare war on Hitler at this time.
and lend-lease aid should be
shut off. the very shot n the arm
tFe Russians need for next
Spring might Re denied them
Hitler would then still have d
tremendous advantage when &C
ton started after the thaw-
But there IS another strategic
reason why the Reuben James
becomes a live pawn il HItlers
hands
The sinking Of the destroyer
imposes on the United States
Nav chiefs the duty Of tighten
ing I'D our forces protecting our
conveys 70 Iceland They must
keeD intact the fleet thew nOW
have IN the Atlantic They might
even b tempted 70 withdraw
Sims from the Pacific
Il we lower the strength Of
our Pacific fleet the japanese
might be encouraged 70 strike =
blow at Russia's rear Vladivos-
tok Is their dearest desire It's
q knife pointed at Tokyo Or. II
the japanese should strike Al
Singapore. we would have q
two-Ocean war On our hands
with only a one-Ocean navy 70
fight II
Doubtless 4 declaration OF
war BY the United States az this
time would have-from the
standpoint Of our defense effort
some advantages 4 people a.
var are usually = united people
Strikes. discord- debate are usu-
ally forgotten Whatever the
course ahead. ire majority uSa-
allv follows that course 70 the
bitter end
But tn 5 another matter q
domestic a1arter for the PTesl-
dent and tire Congress 70 decide
They 5Esa have % weigh both
advantages AMI Disadvantage