Success of British Measures

Evening Star, Issue 23382, 27 September 1939, Page 9

Success of British Measures

Big Offset to Merchandise Losses

Less Tonnage Sunk Every Week (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright ' RUGBY, September 26. ; (Received September 27, at 11 a.m.) In a statement on the war at sea supplementary to that made by Mr Chamberlain, Mr Churchill gave interesting figures showing the progress of the measures for dealing with U-boats. Tlie convoy system was now in full operatibn both ways. The arming of merchantmen was proceeding apace, and in a very short time the immense mercantile marine of the British Empire, of which about 2,000 ships were usually at sea every day, would be armed. Referring to the curious circumstances that he was back, at the Admiralty again after 25 years and moving over the same tourse against the same enemy in the same month of the year, Mr Churchill said it gave him an opportunity to compare conditions as no one else could. “ I see how much greater are the advantages we possess to-day in coping with the Urboats than we had 25 years ago, he said.. After detailing the improvements in the hunting U-boats, Mr Churchill said it was no exaggeration• to say that the attacks upon U-boats had been five or six times as numerous as in any period of the Great War. The figure of six or seven U-boats destroyed mentioned by Mr Churchill a week ago was probably ; an understatement, and 'since then they had some fruitful and hopeful days; but even taking six of seven, that was one-tenth of the, total enemy submarine fleet as it existed at the declaration of war destroyed in the first fortnight of the war, and probably a quarter and perhaps even a third of the U-boats which had been actively employed.

In the first week the loss of British shipping amounted to 65,000 tons, but in the second it was 46,000 tons, and in the third week 21,000, and for the last six days only 9,000 tons. German merchandise seized and converted to British use was 67,000 tons more than British merchandice sunk by U-boats. Britain had more supplies to-day than she would have had if -., no war had be.en declared. .. “U-boats now seem to prefer neutrals,” said Mr '•Churchill. He explained that when the Courageous turned ‘ into The wind to enable aircraft to land on her deck it was a 10 to one chance that the vessel was attacked by a .U-boat. “ One U-boat commander who sent me'a personal message is now in our hands,” he said. “ I feel that at the end of the three weeks’ warfare the Admiralty’s pre-war ‘ judgement does not need revision. It would take a long time to starve us out.” Mr Churchill continued that a third of the damage in the last war was done by 25 experienced U-boat commanders. It would be easier for Germany to build more boats than to replace the skilled officers and crews . captured or destroyed.