SHIPPING LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1940, Page 5

SHIPPING LOSSES

LAST WEEK’S HEAVIEST OF WAR NEUTRALS THE GREATEST SUFFERERS. ONLY ONE CONVOYED VESSEL SUNK. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received This Day. 10.40 turn. > LONDON, February 20. Shipping losses by enemy action for the week ended February 18 were the highest of the war. Neutrals were by far the greatest sufferers. Total losses since the war began amount to 1.059,766 tons. Last week’s totals are five British ships totalling 39.276 tons and fifteen neutrals totalling 46.801 tons. In addition the Admiralty has notified the loss of three British vessels, totalling 7,562 tons. Three neutral ships, totalling 6.830 tons, were not included in previous lists owing to lack of confirmation. The British'Triumph (which struck a mine) was the only ship lost from a convoy last week. Neutral ships numbering 100 were convoyed without loss. The Allied navies last week captured three German ships and two others were scuttled, in addition to the beaching of the Altmarck. Sinkings include the Finnish Wil.ja, 3,396 tons, and the Norwegian Snngstad. 4,297 tons, both not previously reported. A Daventry report observes that though large, the figure is well below that for the period of unrestricted Üboat warfare in 1917. when the average was 105 ships each week. It is probable that 13 out of the 15 neutral ships were sunk by U-boats without warning. Up to last Wednesday 8969 ships had been convoyed and only 19 lost, a proportion of one in 472. Of these two were neutral.