The Daily Alaska Empire

PROTECTION OF CONVOYS IS ORDERED
Warships Now Take Up Policing of Route Over North Atlantic Ocean
GUNS OF NAVY READY TO REPEL ALL ATTACKS
American Merchantmen Are Given Permission to Carry Arms, Munitions

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.

Stripped for action, the United States Atlantic Fleet today took under protection of its guns all Lease-Lend cargoes in transit on the Atlantic Ocean between the North American continent and Iceland.

At the zero hour of this new phase of operations, 12:01 o'clock this morning, it was the widely accepted view in authoritative quarters that the new assignment meant actual convoy duty of United States naval vessels along a 2,000-mile reach of the North Atlantic.

In a companion move to ease Britain's shipping burdens, American merchantmen were given explicit permission to carry arms and munitions to many parts of the vast British Empire.

Official Ruling
The State Department announced a ruling by Attorney General Francis Biddle which held that the President's Neutrality Act proclamation at the outbreak of the European war did not bar American ships from transporting implements of war to any portion of the British Empire except the United Kingdom—the British Isles.

"Combat Zones"
India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Union of South Africa areas were blocked by the Neutrality Act "combat zones" clause.

Effect of the ruling was to clear the way for a flow of munitions and American ships to numerous British colonies and possessions, some of them in strategic proximity to theatres of active operations and others of potential future importance.

Meanwhile, administration leaders in the Senate, mulling over the whole broad question of the existing Neutrality Act, reported they were undecided on how far they

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PROTECTION
OF CONVOYS
IS ORDERED

Warships Now Take Up
Policing of Route Over
North Atlantic Ocean

(Continued From Page One)

should go in seeking its overhaul to carry out the new task.

Great Fleet Stripped

The Atlantic Fleet is believed to have a substantial excess over the 125 vessels, including three old battleships assigned it when the fleet was created more than a year ago.

The Navy announced meanwhile that every Navy vessel authorized by law has been contracted for in the creation of the greatest array of fighting ships under one flag which the world has ever seen.

It also was disclosed that two of six new 35,000-ton battleships, the U.S.S. North Carolina and U.S.S. Washington, have been added to the battle line this month.

They represent the first capital ship additions to go into service since 1923 and give the United States 17 battleships in actual service.