WAR ON U-BOATS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 94, 18 October 1939, Page 9

WAR ON U-BOATS

MANY SUCCESSES

ONE-THIRD SUNK

MR. CHURCHILL GIVES FIGURES

(British Offlclal Wireless.)

(Received October 18, 11.30 a.m.)

RUGBY, October 17,

The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Churchill, disclosed in the House of Commons that in the six weeks since the war began it was estimated that 13 U-boats had been sunk, five seriously damaged and possibly sunk, and several damaged. During tlie last week seven U-boats had been sunk. Nothing like this rate of destruction had been attained in the last war, and these figures were probably an understatement. It is believed that out of about 60 Üboats which were ready for action at the beginning of the war, about one-third had already been sunk or seriously damaged, and of the largest, latest ocean-going type at least one-fifth. On the other hand, of the British mercantile marine of H i'O.QPO tons, the total loss by U-boats, mines, or accidents was 174,000 tons. (B? Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.") (Received October 18, 1 p.m.) LONDON, October 17. Mr. Churchill said: "The French Navy has also been active and has certainly- taken its toll, but it is not for me to give the figures. We believe that of about sixty U-boats ready for action at the beginning of the war j about-a third are already sunk or sei*i- \ ously damaged. The latest ocean-' going types represent a proportion of about one-fif th Of those put out, of action. We actually hold survivors from three of this higher class. 'Such skilled crews could not easily be replaced." I

He added that U-boats had succeeded so far in sinking 156,000 tons of Britain's 21,000,000 tons of mercantile shipping. To those losses could be added 18,000 tons lost as a .result of mining or accidents. Britain had captured 29,000 tons of shipping from the enemy and had benefited by the commissioning of new ships totalling 104.000 tons.

"It will be seen that while our mercantile marine remains practically unaffected by the U-boat warfare, losses have been inflicted on the enemy which, if continued, could certainly not be endured," he said.

Replying to Germany's claims that she had command of the North Sea, Mr. Churchill said that/there was most effective control of all contraband and all commerce entering Germany. The North Sea was controlled so effectively that Germany had not derived any advantage whatever from her ocean-going commerce.