USA buying complete fleet of the Panama Pacific Line according to the Dutch newspaper Eindhovensche en Meierijsche courant dated 24 October 1940

An item dated Washington 23 October reported that according to tidings from san Francisco the US navy increased her auxiliary strength by acquiring five freighters/passenger ships with a total capacity of 8,378 tons. It was the complete fleet of the Panama Pacific Line. It seemed to be the intention to use these ships as transports or small mother ships for planes.