SCANTY RESULTS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 256, 8 November 1939, Page 4

SCANTY RESULTS

U-BOAT CAM PA ICN RAPID DIMINUTION REVIEW OF LOSSES SMALL PART OF TOTAL SAFETY I'XDER. CONVOY RUGBY, Nov. G. in authoritative naval circles the frequently threatened intensified und-cj-water campaign against mercantile snipping causes no anxiety, and the belie! is general that the U-boat offensive lias been .scotched. Merchant shipping losses since the first fortnight of the war, when conditions were most favourable for such activities, have shown a rapid diminution. Figures revealed to-day show a position which is regarded as ottering a promising prospect. British ships sunk in September numbered 37, the total tonnage being 155.b'3G. .in October, 13 British ships of 83,150 tons wore sunk. Xo British ship has been, .sunk in November. Other allied ships sunk in. this period' were one in September of 2GGO tons, six in October of -15,275 tons, and none in November. Neutral ships sunk by Üboats were 15 in September of 37,284 tons. 18 in October of 44.038 tons, and two in November of 12,450 tons. Fifty-Five British Ships During the whole period, therefore, 55 British ships of 238,795 tons, seven other Allied ships totalling 17.935 tons, and 34 neutral ships of 93,817 toils were sunk. The British losses represent 1.5 per cent, of the 18.500,000 tons oi British shipping on the high seas. As lor tho German air arm's part in Liu- naval war, the history pi these curly months has -failed to product.' the heavy air attack on British shipping that might have been expected and those efforts the Germans have made have been entirely fruitless and expensive. No British ship, naval or mercantile, has been even temporarily disabled from the air except the demilitarised! Iron Duke, while the German attacking forces experienced Josses amounting to roughly 30 per cent. Twenty-eight ships, representing four convoys, brought 100,000 tons of foodstuffs to a British port in four days, indicating the safe passage of the Empire’s commerce.