SHIPPING L.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1940, Page 6

SHIPPING L.

INCREASE LN JUNE PARTLY DUE TO FRENCH COLLAPSE. TONNAGE POSITION BETTER THAN IN DECEMBER. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, July 2. _ The Admiralty announced that Britain lost 88.259 tons of merchant shipping during the week ended June 24. During the worst period of the last war—April. 1917—Britain lost nearly three times the number of merchantmen and twice the tonnage weekly, compared with losses for the month ended on June 24. The sinkings were considerably heavier than in previous weeks, due to an increased number of U-boats operating, mainly, in the western approaches to the Bay of Biscay, probably from French ports. Despite heavy losses, Britain's actual tonnage position is better than in last December, due to new construction, captures from the enemy and transfers from other flags. Italian mercantile losses to June 30 were 229.000 tons and German losses were 857,000 tons.

The total British losses include 30.446 tons lost during combined operations off French ports and therefore not mercantile losses in the ordinary sense. Similarly, 33.020 tons out of 69,770 tons of Allied shipping were lost in like circumstances. The net mercantile losses, therefore, are: —British. eight ships, 57,813 tons; Allied, eight ships. 36,750 tons; neutral, eleven ships, 34,882 tons. Totals: twenty-seven ships, 129,445 tons. It is learned that no British or Allied ships have been sunk in the Mediterranean. SURVIVORS LANDED FROM LOST BRITISH STEAMER. THREE MEMBERS OF CREW KILLED. LONDON, July 1. Survivors from the freighter. Empire Toucan have been landed on the west coast. Two wireless operators and one greaser were killed and 31 of the crew rescued. ■