Truth about the Greer incident and Roosevelts lust for war

[Eric Ertman]

At 0845 a British aircraft informed the Greer that a U-Boat had been located submerged ten miles further to the west on the destroyer's course. The Greer increased speed and set a zig-zag course for the point indicated. As soon as the sound detector had picked up the noise of the U-boats propellers, the destroyer followed the U-boat and reported its position by wireless for the benefit of any British aircraft or destroyer that might have been in the vicinity. This was in accordance with the orders to pass on information but not to deliver any attack, which had been given to the destroyer. At 1032 a British aircraft dropped four depth charges,which,however missed the target; twenty minutes later it gave up the chase. The Greer, however remained on the U-boats track. At 1240 the U-boat altered course,approached the Greer and fired a torpedo,which missed. The Greer delivered a counter-attack but without success."

In spite of this Roosevelt told the American people in a broadcast that the Greer had been arbitrarily attacked by a German U-boat without any provocation and that the act of the U-boat had been an act of piracy!!

"The transfer to great Britain of fifty American Warships was decidedly an unneutral act by the United States. It would,according to all standards of history, have justified the German Government in declaring war on them". Winston Churchill.