Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1940. LOSSES OF SHIPPING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 41, 28 November 1940, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1940. LOSSES OF SHIPPING.

Losses of shipping in the week ended Sunday, November 18, totalled 59,534 tons, the vessels destroyed being fourteen British, two Allied and one neutral. This is not only considerably less than the average since the intensified attack began at the end of May but is also below that for the whole war. To appreciate their full value the figures may be compared with the toll taken during the last war. A loss of 59,534 tons in a week represents very roughly a monthly total of 238,000 tons. It was in the early months of 1917 that Germany's unrestricted submarine campaign brought Britain face to face with her gravest peril, and made some of those responsible for the Empire s destiny weigh the issue of ultimate defeat. In February of that year the loss, all counted, amounted to 532,000 tons; in March it rose to 599,000 tons, while in April 545,000 tons of British shipping alone went to the bottom. April is generally estimated as the blackest month for Britain on the sea, as the peak period of German submarine success. By the end of 1917 the situation was considered to be well in hand; yet in February, 1918, the British loss alone amounted to 226,000 tons of merchant shipping. The comparison, though far from showing that the sinking of 59,534 tons in a week is negligible, gives reason for satisfaction as being far from the rate prevailing in 1917, wheh the menace to merchant shipping was at its worst. At the same time it would be foolish to infer that the reduction in the weekly losses indicates that the menace from both submarine and air attacks has been overcome. But it certainly does inspire confidence that the problem of efficient protection will eventually be solved. In the meantime the men of the merchant marine, together with the naval ratings, who man the defensive guns, are playing their part in coping with the enemy. The story of the Sussex was cabled to the Dominion because the vessel is engaged in the New Zealand trade, but our pride in the gallant fight her captain and crew put up, should not cause us to overlook the fact that their conduct has been equalled by many of their fellows. It is this dauntless facing of perils and death that will be a great factor in defeating the enemy.