SHIPPING LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 February 1940, Page 5

SHIPPING LOSSES

EXAGGERATED GERMAN CLAIMS FIGURES FOR PAST FORTNIGHT. STATEMENT BY ADMIRALTY. The German claims of having sunk 200,000 tons of shipping in ten days, from January 21 to January 31 are exploded in an Admiralty statement published today, states a Daventry broadcast. The total losses of shipping for the fortnight from January 21 to February 4 amounted to 72,000 tons. This figure does not include two tankers, the sinking of which has not been confirmed. The sinking of neutral ships is still higher than Allied losses, though in the last week the Germans did sink more British than neutral. In the period from January 21 to February 4, eight British ships totalling 25,000 tons and six neutral ships, totalling 17,500 tons were sunk. The figures of British losses are regarded as neither particularly good nor particularly bad. The average addition to British shipping tonnage is 20.000 tons a week, made up by new construction, captures of enemy ships and purchases of ships from other countries.

TORPEDOED IN ATLANTIC

CANADIAN SHIP BEAVERBURN, BOMBING OF SUBMARINE WITNESSED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, February 6. The Canadian cargo liner Beaverburn (9874 tons), with a crew of 70 and 22 passengers, has been torpedoed in the Atlantic. There is no news of the crew and passengers, but it is believed that other ships have picked up some.

A report from Ottawa states that passengers by a British liner which docked at a Canadian port today told how a German submarine appeared while the liner was being escorted by armed trawlers. The passengers, who swarmed on deck ready to take to the boats, could see the U-boat manoeuvring into position to aim.

Suddenly from out of a cloud two British bombers dived straight at the submarine and their bombs churned the water. The submarine vanished, leaving wreckage and a pool of oil. The passengers included the author. Miss Rosita Forbes, who is making a lecture tour of North America.

MURDEROUS TACTICS NAZI ATTACKS ON NEUTRAL SHIPS. ACTS OF PURE TERRORISM. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 5. The arrival of Stavanger (Norway) of survivors of the torpedoed Swedish ship Pajala has been the occasion for angry protests in the Scandinavian Press against German ruthlessness. The Swedish paper “Dagens Nyheler” characterises the attack on the Pajala as “aboslutely inexplicable except as an act of pure terrorism.” The Norwegian journal “Aftenposten” says: “What is being done against Norwegian and other neutral seamen is murder. Wo must look back to the darkest pages of human history to find corresponding precedents.”

U=BOATS SUNK FORTY OF ORIGINAL NUMBER. ACCORDING TO FRENCH ESTIMATE. PARIS, February 6. The Minister of the Merchant Marine, M. Campinchi, today estimated that the Allies have sunk 40 German submarines from the original 55 since the outbreak of the war. A new French destroyer has made a record speed of 45 knots. The submarine Surcouf, which was recently completed, is the only warship which can be manoeuvred 240 feet below the surface. It also carries a monoplane. CREW SAVED LOSS OF THE BEAVERBURN. NO PASSENGERS ON BOARD. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 6. The Beaverburn was torpedoed oil the southwest coast yesterday. The company states that subject to confirmation, 76 of the 77 crew were saved. The missing man may also bo safe, although he is not yet located. The vessel carried no passengers. GENERAL REHEARSAL PREPARATIONS FOR SPRING OFFENSIVE. HULL & NEWCASTLE BLOCKADED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m..) BERLIN. February 6. A German officer described the raids on shipping as a general rehearsal of a spring offensive, in which swarms of planes and waves of submarines will participate and end the war within a few months. He added: “Our planes chased away the British High Seas Fleet. Hull and Newcastle are now blockaded.”