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THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 22, 1941.
ROOSEVELT GIVES WARNING
Tells Congress That Army Must Be Kept Intact National Danger
Greater
Than A Year
A Year Ago
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT YESTERDAY ASKED CONGRESS TO AUTHORISE THE EXTENSION OF THE ONE-YEAR PERIOD OF ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE ARMY FOR SELECTEE NATION- AL GUARDSMEN AND RESERVISTS, DECLARING THAT AMERICA WAS IN "INFINITELY GREATER" DANGER THAN A YEAR AGO.
Unless this extension was granted, the nation would be taking a grave national risk, said President Roosevelt, and dis- integration of the army would be under way within two months. The responsibility for maintaining the efficiency of the army rests solely with the legislators.
President Roosevelt dramatised his re- quest by trying an innovation he trans- cribed his message on records so that his words might be broadcast.
The President emphasised that; demubilising.”
CONGRESS WARMING
UP
Immediately after Pre- sident Roosevelt's message to Congress, the chairman of the House Military conditions had changed since the Referring to national security, Committee, Congressman 12-menth limitation was placed a the President said that two steps May, introduced two re- year ago on the service of selectee were taken last year. Firstly, "the guardsmen and reservists, and de- | selective service act initiated an- solutions, to retain the clared that "to-day it is impera-nual military training as the prime army in service and to re- live that I officially report to Con-duty of citizenship. Secondly, the gress
what Congress
the limit on the doubtedly knows: that
the companies was begun. The objec-number of selectees, but international situation is not less tive was to have ready, at short
was a year ago.
un-organisation and training of feld move
grave but far more grave than it notice, an organised and integrat-making no declaration of ed personnel of over million a state of emergency on It is so grave, in my opinion, | men." and in the opinion of all who are
behalf of Congress itself. After reference to the "tragic conversant with the facts, that the error" of eliminating two-thirds of Sin ultaneously, Senator Thomas army should be maintained at trained soldiers and three-quar- (Utah) in the Senate, introduced effctive strength and without ters of the officers and personnel, legislation in the Senate provid- diminution of its effective num- the President said "occasional in- ing for the proclamation by Con- bers in a complete state of readi-dividuals may with honest intent gress of a state of national emer- assert that the United States neeri¦gency, but restricting the Pre-
ness.
"Small as it is by comparison fear no attack on its own territory sident's authority thereunder to with other armics. It should not or on other nations in this hemis-the retaining of selectees and tuffer any form of disorganisa-phere by aggressors from without. national guards in service. tion or disintegration."
Nevertheless, it is the well-known Senator Johnson (California) ununimous opinion of those whu declared
with Grave Risk
his disagreement are daily cognisant, as military and, the entire Message. naval officers, and government ser- President Roosevelt said, there- vants in the field of international demanded
Senator Smith (South Carolina) details of "What's fore, it would be taking a grave relations, that the schemes and threatening us, if anything?" national risk unless Congress p'anx of the aggressor nations Senator Barkley, the Democra–
tenance of the present full effec-evident that the United States and Roosevelt speaks with knowledge
When he recently paid a visit to an armament establishment Mr. Church!!! tried his hand with an automatic gun. He fired a number of rounda at targets some distance away and fairly pepe pered them. The Secretary of State for War (Captain Marges- son) was an interested spectat or.
"LADY SOMERS"
SUBMARINE DRAMA:
SPANISH GALLANTRY
(By Reuter's Special Correspondent).
were to make possible the main- against American security are sutic leader, commented: "President SPANISH SHIP IN REMAINING FOR TWO THE GALLANTRY OF THE CREW OF A
tive strength of the army during the rest of the Americas are de-of the world situation which he HOURS IN A SUBMARINE DANGER AREA IN the coming year, and give train-finitely imperilled in their nation-alone possesses." He predicted that ing to as many additional Ameri- al interests.
Congress would respond "in the ORDER TO RESCUE THE CREW OF THE manner required by the interests BRITISH AUXILIARY VESSEL, “LADY SOMERS,” WAS REVEALED BY MEMBERS
cans as possible.
It would be a "tragic error"
to eliminate two-thirds of the
net.
A Time Schedule
after
of our country."-Reuter,
trained coldiers and three-quar- "That is why, and only ters of the officers and person- careful weighing of all facts and The President said he was not that an unlimited national emer- a great western family,
all events, I recently proclaimed that should bind the Americas into OF THE CREW. WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN
GIBRALTAR. asking Congress for specific lan-gency exists. It is not surprising guage in a specific Bill, and saidhat millions of patriotic Ameri- hoped the legislators "will cans find it difficult in the pursuit acknow❜edge this is a national of their daily occupations, and in emergency either for a specific the normal lives of their familles, { the
he
Cannot Speculate
They state that the "Lady Somers" was
"I do not think any branch of attacked at 2 a.m. by two submarines which
United States Government
period or until revocation by Con- to give constant thought to the would be willing to let America fired torpedoes almost simultaneously, One
gress or by the President."
Time Of Emergency
implications of the happenings share the fate which destroyed submarine hit her astern and then came to many thousands of miles away. the independence of other nations.
That is, why I must refer again "We Americans cannot afford the surface, but crash-dived when the ship
country
the
second
to the sequence of conquests or to speculate with the security of President Roosevelt said that the objective was an all-important against Austria to the present a definite responsibility to every
attacks all the way from the coup America. Furthermore, we have opened fire. Five minutes later issue. He was confident the mencampaign against Russla.
and the in the western hemis-submarine came to the surface, in the ranks realised better than the public the "disastrous effect" across Europe and into Asia and one thereof against attack from
Every move up and down and phere to aid each and every "Lady Somers” fired at this submarine which which would result from permit- Africa have been conducted ac without, ting the present Army to melt cording to a time schedule, utilis
rose up
and then disappeared vertically. "I do not believe that any away and set back training and ing in every case an overwhelm- branch of government would de-
As their ship was settling down, passenger liner, belonging to the the expansion programme at least ing superiority, not only in mater-sire to abrogate our Pan-Amer the crew of the "Lady Somers" Canadian National Steamships. six months.
ial but also in trained men, ican Pacts or discard the policy took to the boats, except the cap- Beuter.
which we hayo maintained for tain and the crew of one gun nearly a century and a quarter which continued firing at inter- If we do not reverse this historie
vals to scare off the submarines.
"Five hours later, a second tor- pedo struck the Lady Somers," causing a terriffle explosion, but "To weaken our army at this those on board were saved with particular time would in my judg-the rest of the crew, ment be an act of bad faith, to- wards our neighbours."
"I do not belleve the danger to American safety is less than it was a year ago, when so far 15
Gaining Time
Bad Faith
the army was concerned the Unit- Each campaign has been based policy then it is our duty to ed States was in a woefully weak on the preliminary assurance of maintain it. position. I do not bellevo the safety and non-aggression to the the danger to our national safety is intended victim, a only about the same as it was a Each campaign has been based year ago, I do believe-I know-on disarming fear and gaining time the danger to-day is infinitely until the German Government was greater. I do believe-I know fully ready to throw treatles, and that in all truth we are in the pacts to the winds, and simultan- midst of a national-emergency." cously launch attack in overs,
whelming force.
Tragic Error
President Roosevelt concluded as follows Time counts, With- In two month, the disintogra tion, which would follow failuro, to take Congressional action will commenco in the armies of the United, Statar." "
Each elimination of a victim brought the issue of Nazi domina- President Roosevelt pointed out tion closer to this hemisphere, that unless the service period was while month by month their, intri- extended at the "beginning of this gues of propaganda and con+ "Time counts. Responsibility autumn about two-thirds of the spiracy sought to weaken every rests solely with United States army will begin link in the community of interests Reuter.
16-YEAR-OLD GIRL DROWNED
A 10-year-old girl was drowned in the "Little West Lake" above. They were all picked up by Kowloon Tong, yesterday. She the Spanish steamer, "Campe was one of a party of 28 girl che," and a survivor: deo'ared students who were picnicking in "the Spaniards were not able to the neighbourhood.~* 'do enough for us. They gave up
their cabins for the four days NOTHING DOING we woło aboard, and shåröd averything they had." It:le im- Once again, the official-com- possible to speak too highly of munique dealing with daylight air 'them."
Rides activity over Britain atates: The "Lady Somera” was a 8,104-There is nothing – to report.' | ton vessel." She was formerly a British Wireless.