Evening star., 1941-03-11

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, March 1.-THE bat
tie of the Atlantic is on, Britons
proclaimed today and officials
optimistically staked the future
of the kingdom and empire on
United States aid at hand or
available.
Without clarifying his intent. a
high British naval official said
Britain had enough trained per-
sonnel to man the whole American
feet if it were turned over to her
for the conflict between British
shipping and axis raiders, aerial,
surface and undersea.
Britain, he declared, wants all the
ships from America she can get. He
paid high tribute to the so former
United States destroyers now con-
voying freighters on the empire S
lifelines.
Air Minister Sir Archibald Sinclair
told the House of Commons that
American warplanes will get here
in time" for the developing battle
of the seaways.
Will Arrive In Time, He Says.
Mr., Sinclair said Nazi Propaganda
Minister Paul Joseph Goebbels was
telling "his dupes" that American
help for Britain would arrive too
late
But I tell the House that splendid
aircraft-the choicest fruits of
American design and craftsmanship
will get here in time" Sir
Archibald said.
Well-lnformed quarters said Britain
already has trained a vast skeleton
organization of flyers, seamen and
soldiers to take over the large
quantities Of planes. ships and guns
expected from the United States.
American military, naval and air
experts have been working here
more than four months in close CO.
operation with the British so that
the empires forces can operate
American equipment Immediately.
The high naval official said that
already there is hardly a convoy on
the seas that doesn't number among
the escort one of the American de-
stroyers" of the so transferred last
September.
Remarks Made at Luncheon.
1t was then that he declared the
capacity of the British Navy to man
the whole American feet, if neces-
sary, after questions by American
correspondents. The remarks were
made at luncheon.
That the battle of the Atlantic
now has started, the source said, is
evidenced by the intensified sub
marine war, by the intensified air
attack on British shipping and by
Britain's countermeasures.
Britain's countermeasures were
not outlined.
Surface Raiders Less - Problem.
This informant said, however, that
surface raiders were less a problem
to British shipping than submarines
and bombing planes.
He also stated that, while Britain
welcomed the transfer of the so de-
stroyers from the United States in
return for Western Hemisphere
bases, she would be more benefited
by destroyers better equipped for
anti-submarine and anti-aircraft
warfare such as modern warships
must face.
As an indication of how Britain
is able to supply crews for additional
warships, another British source said
British sailors took the transferred
destroyers on their voyage to Britain
from Halifax as fast as the ships
were ready.
Ready to Man Mosquito Fleet.
Neutral sources said:
l. Britain's naval forces are pre-
pared to man a mosquito boat fleet
to patrol the channel against any
invasion and use any additional de-
stroyers for convoy and other pur-
poses.
2. There is a huge reservoir of
pilots trained in the use of American
planes and ready to fly patrol bomb
ers described as needed for de
(See SUPPLIES. Page A-3)