LOSSES AT SEA

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20986, 13 December 1939, Page 10

LOSSES AT SEA

MUCH IMPROVED POSITION MEETING THE MENACE SUNKEN SHIPS REPLACED (Omclal Wireless) Dec. 13, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 12 The enormous naval construction programme, which has been greatly increased since the outbreak of the war, more than compensates for the losses suffered by the British Navy. Nearly 1,000,000 tons of warships are now under construction, and many important units are nearing completion, while the anti-submarine forces have already more than trebled since the war began. As was announced by Mr Winston Churchill, all the losses suffered by enemy action are announced at the earliest possible moment. These losses to date are H.M.S. Royal Oak, H.M.S. Courageous, the destroyers Gipsy and Blanche, and one submarine representing 55,649 tons displacement. In addition the armed merchant cruiser Rawalpindi and four small mine-sweepers, totalling 18,369 tons gross, have been lost. Anxiety in Germany There is evidence of growing German anxiety in view of the situation resulting from these facts,’ and it is significant that in a recent broadcast to Italy the German claim that her navy had been strongly reinforced was supported by a statement that the Danube flotilla had been incorporated. This consists of two river patrol vessels and a few motor launches, designed solely for river work. The British merchant shipping losses due to enemy action since the war began totalled 82 ships at the end of November, with a tonnage just under 300,000. Losses were highest in September and declined in October, when the offensive measures against U-boats and the defensive measures for the convoy came into operation. There was a further decline in November, when the losses represented only one-third of those in September, and despite the fact that intensive German minelaying began in mid-waters the losses during the period from December 3 to 9, totalled 23,432 tons, which with the Doric Star sunk in the South Atlantic on December 3 made the week’s total losses 34,518 tons. More Vessels Sunk The vessel King Egbert was sunk in the North Sea, either by a torpedo or a mine. It went down in 15 minutes. One member of the crew was lost. An Estonian steamer rescued 32 others. It is recalled that the King Egbert collided off the Canadian coast in 1935 with the Niagara. COPENHAGEN, Dec. 12 The Swedish steamer Tome was sunk by a mine off Oresunk. The fate of the crew is unknown. Loss of Drifter The Admiralty announces the following casualties resulting from the loss of the drifter Ray of Hope:— Killed, four; missing, believed killed, five.

CONTRABAND CONTROL EXAMINATION OF NEUTRALS BRITAIN’S SPEEDIER METHOD (OfUclal Wirelesss (Received Dec. 13, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 12 Brief experience has shown that the process of examining neutral vessels for German exports under the Order-in-Coupcil which came into effect on December 4 is a speedier business than a general examination of incoming ships for contraband destined for Germany. Although during the past few days a number of outward-bound neutral vessels has been intercepted and examined in the Downs and at Weymouth and Kirkwall, so far only small quantities of goods of German origin have been detained and turned over to the Prize Court. SUBMARINE’S TALLY CLAIMS BY GERMANY BRITAIN ON THE DEFENSIVE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrignu V (Received Dec. 13, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Dec ±2 A Berlin wireless message claims that a returned U-boat sank 26,000 tons of shipping. The official German news agency says that British sea-power is distinctly on the defensive. ALARMS SOUNDED AEROPLANES OVER GIBRALTAR FOUR UNIDENTIFIED MACHINES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 13, 3.15 p.m.) GIBRALTAR, Dec. 12 For a second time during the war the air raid alarms sounded when four unidentified planes appeared from the south.-. The machines’\changed their course and disappeared. - In the House of » Commons Mr Chamberiain. replying, to a question, said: “I have not any (Official confirmation of reports that jltaly and Germany are transportfhg and selling military equipment to'Finland.’‘ J