LOSSES AT SEA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 46, 4 December 1939, Page 5

LOSSES AT SEA.

ALLIED AND GERMAN SHIPS. NAZIS LOSE 35 VESSELS. LONDON, December 2. It is authoritatively stated in London that in the three months of the war the British Navy has enabled nearly 2-1,Q00 5 000 gross tons of Biitisli shipping to keep the seas with the loss of just four per cent, of the total naval tonnage in actual losses or disablements.

The British Navy at the beginning of the war totalled 1,500,000 tons of ships, reckoning on a displacement basis comprising all types—battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines. To this must be added an unspecified amount of commissioned’ tonnage for navy purposes, which is not inconsiderable when the total number of big passenger liners and other suitable craft-is remembered. Germany has oniy put out of action, 'through sinking, about 53,000 tons of warships, and the most important units in this group were upwards of 25 years old. Nor do these figures make allowances for completions from one of the most extensive building programmes thej world has ever seen. On the other hand, it is officially stated in London, the total of German merchant vessels captured or sunk since the outbreak of war is 34 ships, totalling 145,301 tons. Sixteen vessels were captured by the British, with a tonnage of 59,754; and by the Irencli, three ships totalling 16,122 tons. Fifteen vessels have been sunk or scuttled, totalling 69,425 tons. To this list must be added the German vessel Watussi, of 9000 tons, which, according to a Cape Town report, was intercepted, by South African bombing aeroplanes this morning south of Cape Point and, after being ordered to proceed to Simonstown, was scuttled by its crew., The survival's v;cro later picked up. , ....;