WELL IN HAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1939, Page 5

WELL IN HAND

GERMAN ÜBOAT ATTACK ON SHIPPING

AN ENCOURAGING SURVEY. ENEMY AIR EFFORT AT SEA A FAILURE.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) RUGBY. November 6. In authoritative naval circles the frequently threatened intensified underwater campaign against mercantile shipping causes no anxiety and the belief is general that the U-boat offensive has 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 and figures revealed today show a position which is regarded as offering a promising prospect. British ships sunk in September numbered 37. with a total tonnage 155,636. In October. 18 British ships of a tonnage of 83,159 were sunk. No British ship has been sunk in November. Other Allied ships sunk during this .period were one in September, of 2660 tons, six in October of 45.275 tons, and none in November. Neutral ships sunk by U-boaTs were 15 in September, of 37,283 tons, 17 in October, of 44,038 tons, and two in November of 12.450 tons.

During the whole period, therefore, 55 British ships of 238.795 tons and seven other Allied ships, totalling 47.935 tons and 34 neutral ships of 93.817 tons, were sunk. The British losses represent 1.5 per cent of the 18,500.000 tons of British shipping on the high seas.

As for the German air arms' part in naval war. the history of these early months has failed to produce 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 . have experienced losses amounting roughly to 30 per cent. ADD apparently scotched.

SAFE PASSAGE

CONVOYS REACH BRITAIN. BIG FOOD CARGOES LANDED. (Received This Day. 9 a.m.) LONDON. November 6. Twenty-eighth ships, representing four convoys, brought 100,000 tons of foodstuffs to a British port in four days, thus indicating the safe passage of the Empire commerce.

SUPPLY SHIP SUNK

BY FRENCH SUBMARINE. REPORT FROM BELGIAN CONGO. (Received This Day. 9 a.m.) LONDON. November 6. The ' "News Chronicle’s” Brussels correspondent says it is reported from the Belgian Congo that a French submarine torpedoed and sank a German U-boat supply ship Togo in the vicinity of Lobito.