GERMAN SHIPS FOR SALE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20958, 10 November 1939, Page 4

GERMAN SHIPS FOR SALE

If Germany is sincere in her claim that her counter-blockade of Britain is a success and that the submarine campaign will encompass the ruin of the Allies’ seaborne trade and their navies, why is she offering for sale 80 German merchantmen that lie helpless in neutral South American ports? No doubt the shios could be bought at bargain prices, as could many other ships lying in neutral ports in other parts of the world. The truth is, of course, that Germany realises ifcat her ships abroad are effectively cut off from their homeland and will remain so for the duration of the war. In neutral ports they have to pay harbour dues, and therefore they are nothing better than a source of expense to Germany. If they remain long enough they may be seized to make good the debt. As the war progresses it becomes more evident every day that Germany has no hope of smashing the Allies’ blockade. Damage to the ships of Britain and France is dwindling steadily as the submarines are becoming decimated and forced farther and farther away from the most important shipping lanes. Some time has elapsed since the order went forth for an intensification of the submarine campaign, but the only effect has been a decrease in the rate of sinkings. British people were never more confident in the strength of the Royal Navy. It is not surprising that Germany is attempting to realise on ships that are no longer of any use to her. It must be disheartening to the German people to realise that losses of Allied shipping and cargo have been almost balanced by seizures of enemy ships and contraband cargo consigned to Germany. Actually Britain’s mercantile fleet is stronger than at the outbreak of war, and a much greater effort than the submarines have shown themselves capable of will be required to render the British Empire’s food supplies insecure. These facts are of first importance to New Zealand and the other Dominions which depend on seaborne trade. Britain has found it possible to dispatch to New Zealand sufficient ships to clear the cool stores of the Dominion of heavy surpluses of meat and other produce and place the shipping position in a more than usually satisfactory condition.