FEWER SHIPS SUNK

Evening Star, Issue 24288, 1 September 1942, Page 3

FEWER SHIPS SUNK

BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC TURNING POINT APPARENTLY REACHED NEW YORK, August 31. The Washington correspondent of the- • Herald-Tribune ’ says: “ The turning point has apparently been reached iu the Battle of the Atlantic. The official list of ship sinkings by Axis submarines In the Western Atlantic, the Gulf or Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea, which, the Navy Department has published for August, shows a drop of 50 per cent, compared with the list for each of the previous three months. The Navy Department reports that only 31 ships of the United Nations were torpedoed in August. This total compares with 68 torpedoed in July, 78 in June, and 61 in May. . . “ The Navy Department is reticent about boasting of this - achievement,' partly because in the past statements by the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Knox, and others asserting that the U-boat menace was conquered, were invariably followed by a new and bigger wave of sinkings. 'The reductions may he due to a seasonal slump, since the long summr twilight is unfavourably for submarine operations, and it is also possible that the Nazis are transferring submarines to other war theatres. At any rate, the navy authorities view the submarine situation with relative optimism, and consider that the convoy system is now fcontrolling the U-boat menace.” OFFICIAL TABULATIONS (Rec. 12.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 31. The Associated Press says the Battle of the Atlantic tabulations for the past eight months show that 449,A11ied and neutral ships were sunk and 3,000 seamen lost and 13,810 rescued. June was the worst mouth, with 109 sinkings. Thereafter the figures dropped astonishingly. July saw 45 sinkings and August 23. The Navy Department announced that a medium-sized Dutch merchantman was torpedoed and sunk late in June on the northern’ coast of South America. The survivors were landed at a United States port. AMERICANS IN INDIA STRONG FORGE PREPARED NEW YORK, August 31. The ‘ New York Times’ ’ correspondent in India reports that a certain town in India has become a key war centre since the Americans invaded itin force. The Americans have poured thousands of troops and much material into the town during the last five months in an effort to prepare for anything the enemy might throw against it. The correspondent says the town’s importance is derived from the fact thatthe Germans are advancing in the Caucasus and the Japanese on the Burma frontier. SAFE PASSAGE REFUSED SUPPLIES FOR U.S. PRISONERS IN JAPAN WASHINGTON, August 30. The chairman of the American Na-, tional Red Cross, Mr Norman H. Davis, announced that the Japanese Government has refused to grant a safe" passage for a neutral ship to carry food, clothing, and medical supplies to American prisoners of war in Japan. The Japanese had further declined to furnish the Red Cross with the names- and addresses of prisoners. Mr Davis said the refusals violate the International Treaty. The Red Cross recently chartered the Swedish vessel Kanangoora at San Francisco, where the vessel, fully loaded, has been awaiting sailing orders. ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL (Rec. 8 a.m.) NEW 7 YORK, Aug. 31. In the face of the Japanese refusal to allow the Swedish ship Kanangoora to carry food and clothing to American prisoners in Japan, the State Department in Washington has made an alternative proposal for the delivery of supplies. Mr Sumner Welles has sent a message to the Japanese through the Swiss Government suggesting that the Kanangoora or other Red Cross ship should proceed to Portuguese East Africa to where the Japanese could similarly send a ship to receive supplies and transport them to Japan. Mr Welles added that the United States expects Japan to fulfil its obligations under the Geneva Convention. BRAZILIAN DEGREE FAR-REACHING POWERS (Rec. 11.5 a.m.) RIO DE JANEIRO, August 31. The - President (Dr Vargas) has issued a decree declaring a state of war, thus enabling immediate general mobilisation* The decree suspends certain constitutional rights, provides for the establishment of military tribunals to try offenders against the national security, prohibits the operation of , German and Italian insurance companies, and empowers cancellation of all contracts with Germans, Italians, and Japanese. Dr Vargas has authorised a 10-hour working day on six days weekly. _ The defence industries are_ provided with a 20 per cent, increase in overtime pay. UNION VETO DEFIED BROADCASTS TO AMERICAN SERVICEMEN (Rec. 11.5 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, August 31. The short-wave 'Station KGEI announced it will ignore an order by Mr Petrillo, president of the Musicians’* Union, to cease recordings for rebroadcast to servicemen in the Pacific areas, . [These programmes are being received at excellent strength by local short-wave listeners.] BRITISH TROOPS IN ABYSSINIA GENERAL WITHDRAWAL ANTICIPATED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 31. The new Ethiouian Minister to London, Belata Ayalla Gabre, arrived yesterday. He was for many years Director of Customs. When British troops left Addis Ababa earlier this month the Emperor gave a‘ luncheon, at which all member* of the British force were presented to him. The Emperor then inspected the troops, who represent the first of almost a general withdrawal.