Evening star., 1942-01-21
j. 5. Aid Is En- Route
70 Pacific War Zone,
Roosevelt Declares
Vons Of A. E. F.s Move
To Far Places os Civil
Auto Bon Is Ordered
ny IN. Assoc,ated Press.


The vanguard Of New A. E. rs
were en- route to far flung battle
lines or already in action today. As
the Nation on the home front took
the Anal step to convert the huge
auto industry exclusively to war
production. ~
The size of the troop movements
and their destinations in various
parts Of the world were military
secrets. The same held true for
the supplies that went with them.
But together they represented a
trickle, At least, Of the great flood
to come. and the news heartened
the other United Nations. particu-
larly the Dutch and Chinese.
The first ofiicial disclosure that
the "Yanks are coming" originated
with the Commander In Chief him.
self, Franklin d. Roosevelt. Ac-
knowledging that reinforcements
and supplies were being sent to the
South Pacific war zone, the Presi-
dent reported excellent progress in
this exacting operation to his press
conference yesterday.
p United States Aids All Fronts.
The Presidents remarks on the
Pacific theater were in response to
q specific question, but the Chief
Executive assured the reporters that
the United States already was con-
tributing to the war against the
Axi7 in every part Of the earth.
Omitting any details that would
be OF value to the enemy. Mr.. Roose-
welt added that stan talks were COW
ering the offensive and defensive, all
the continents and seas, war sup
plies and the movements of materiel,
ships and human beings from one
part of the world to another. Land
ing OF a small force Of American
soldiers in Britain was announced
yesterday by Canadian sources.
Official confirmation that fresh
American troops were battle bound
engendered no false optimism or
expectations Of major victories over
night in a Capital settling down for
. long. hard war.
However. the military activity
which the president mentioned 80
guardedly backed up his promise to
Congress on January 8 that no de-
fensive spirit would govern the fight
against the foe. Instead his pledge
was: I'VE shall hit him and hit him
again, wherever and whenever we
can reach him."
Auto Output TO Cease.
To make sure on the domestic
front that quantities of weapons will
be available for those blows, the
automobile industry was ordered to
cease production entirely. effective
February l, on all passenger cars and
light trucks.
Elsewhere in the war picture.
events closest to the home front
were the continuing operations of
Axis submarines of the Atlantic
coast from Cape Hatteras to New
foundland. The Navy Department
reported last night that several ad-
dttional. attacks had been made on
vessels. but no details were released
on the identity Of the ships or how
they Jared In the encounters.
Strong counter measures are
being taken by units of the Nays
east coastal command" the de-
partment reported.
The submarine war did not appear
to perturb President Roosevelt espe-
cially. He told his press conference
that the raids were not unexpected.
Indeed. he had predicted them sew
eral weeks ago. he reminded news
men.
Mr.. Roosevelt was skeptical that
major purpose of the raids was to
influence the deliberations of the
Pan-American Conference now in
session at Rio de Laneiro.