The Pittsburgh Press (May 6, 1941)
U.S. BOATS GOING TO GREENLAND
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Attempt will be made to halt Axis activity
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Washington, May 6 (UP) –
The United States is planning to send four cutters to Greenland in an attempt to prevent further Axis activity in that region.
Two of the vessels may be the North Star and the Bear, cutters used by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s expedition to the Antarctic regions. The North Star arrived in Boston yesterday and the Bear is en route to the United States.
The North Star belongs to the Interior Department and is needed to transport supplies to Alaska. But the need for speed in establishing well-manned patrols on the Upper Atlantic may force officials to subordinate the needs of the Alaskan service.
In any event, authoritative sources said, four special ships will be obtained one way or another, and will augment the air patrols ultimately to be based at airfields which the United States agreed to establish in its agreement to take over Greenland’s defenses.
The revelation that the Arctic patrol would be augmented coincided with further reports on Axis activity in Greenland. President Roosevelt recently referred to such activity in announcing extension of the neutrality patrol.
It has been learned since that some Germans reportedly landed to establish a weather reporting service and high-powered radio broadcasting station.
Equipment destroyed
The British, it was said, learned of the occupation, dispersed them and destroyed their radio equipment. The reports said a few may have escaped and found refuge in some obscure part of the island.
It was believed that Mr. Roosevelt referred to this action when he mentioned Axis activity there.
The existence of a weather observation station in Greenland, officials said, would be of great importance to Germany in her assault on the British Isles. The isles, it was said, “get their weather” from Greenland. Long-range weather prophecy, needed in planning bombing operations or even an attempt at invasion, is of the greatest importance.