HEAVY LOSSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20132, 29 December 1939, Page 6

HEAVY LOSSES

TRAWLING INDUSTRY SINKINGS during war GERMAN ATTACKS A striking commentary on the branch of the shipping industry which is taking some of the hardest blows from the German war machine, trawling, was contained in a cablegram published this week, when the Admiralty announced British losses during the past week. Of of 10 British vessels lost, eight were trawlers British shipping losses contained in cabled advices during the war have included 28 fishing trawlers of a total gross tonnage of 7421. This loss is comparatively slight, as Great Britain has a trawler fleet of 1526 vessels, the largest total of any nation, but the sinking of defenceless small craft has aroused intense indignation against German methods of warfare. Added Dangers Until a fortnight ago the trawler fleets had to fear only mines, torpedoes and submarine guns, but with the opening of Germany’s attacks from the air by bombs, torpedoes and machine-guns, heavy casualties have been inflicted. These attacks, given without warning, have caused revulsion throughout the Empire and caused the King last week to express horror and indignation. The German excuse is that the trawlers’ main purpose has been to report the approach of German aircraft and naval vessels to the British coast belligerent area. Actually the industry, the sixth most important in Great Britain, must be carried out at all times and at any cost to assist in the nation’s food supply problem. High Officers’ Tributes

Staggering losses were suffered by fishing vessels in the last war. Tii'e trawlers took to the sea in all weathers and thousands of their men joined the naval service. For their work Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe declared that the British Navy saved the war and that the British fishermen saved the Navy. Some years ago Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes said: “I personally owe to the fishermen of England a debt I can never repay.” It is an .interesting note that many of the trawlers which survived the last war have already been lost in the present. Of the 28 vessels lost to date 20 were in service before the end of the Great War. The chfef fishing port of the west coast. Fleetwood, has suffered the largest individual casualties. Nine Fleetwood trawlers have been sunk, practically all in the first two months of war. Granton, on the Firth of Forth, has lost five vessels, all in the past month, and Aberdeen and Grimsby have each lost four.