The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-02

nre guilty of sabotage we could take the vessels for our own use under the World War Espionage Act. How ever. the commission has as yet not Niscussed plans for taking over and operating the ships"
 One section of the 1917 espionage act makes 1t unlawful for the owner or persons in command or the crew members of any vessel in United States territorial waters, to "wilfully cause or permit the destruction or Injury of such vessel" Violation makes the vessel subject to seizure and forfeiture to the United States Fin the same manner as merchant disc is forfeited for violation of the customs revenue laws"
 To Reject Demands
 All action here pointed to the Hat rejection by this government of German and Italian demands that the 90 ships and their crews be re- leased. Attorney General Robert H. Jackson directed U. s. attorneys 0 proceed. immediately with the prosecution of sabotage charges against the Axis seamen.
 If convictions are obtained and khe ships are requisitioned, 1t was uoubted here that any of the vessels would be turned over to the British. " was believed more likely that this government would release American tonnage to Britain and, when re. paired, use the Axis vessels itself.
 Steps Up Aid
 While the ship situation held the center of interest, the administration stepped up It's program of aid to Great Britain and other nations Fighting the Axis powers. President Roosevelt, Q few hours after his return to the White House from 6 vacation, revealed that he has ale located S1,080, 100000 from the 47,000, 100000 war-aid fund for the nanufacture of new defense mater 1als and for food to supply Britain and at least one other nation, be- Ueved to be Greece.
 These orders would supplement aid now being given Britain and Greece from existing Army and Navy stocks. The last release was e large quantity of 75-millhneter guns for Greece.
 MT. Roosevelt told his press con- ference yesterday that the $1 ,080, ,000- 900 in new orders fall into these categories: Army and Navy ma terials, aviation materials, automo- tive materials, Agricultural products; and miscellaneous materials.
 An Agricultural Department t Bpokesrnaf1 said conversations were In progress concerning food for Bri- tains but that nothing definite has been decided. Initial supplies, he said, probably would include meats, dairy products, poultry, eggs and perhaps some vitamin concentrates.
 More Protests of Axis
 Mexico City, April 8. - (UP) -| The German and Italian legations prepared bitter protests today against Mexico's seizure of 12 Axis cargo vessels.
 ( It was understood in diplomatic quarters that equally bitter pro- tests would be made to all the Western Hemisphere governments which had followed the example of the United States by taking over German and Italian ships. Dispatches from other Latin American capitals reported that Axis diplomats and pro-Axis circles Throughout Latin America were amazed by the celerity with which tlle United States "neighbors to the south" modelled their action upon hers.
 The modelling did not end with scizing Axis ships; apparently 1t was to be extended to flatly reject- ing the protests and prosecuting the ships officers who endangered Iharbor and other ships by sabotag- Ing their ships.
 The United States seized Axis and Danish ships over the weekend. The Immediate Latin American reaction ended last night when Mexico took