NAVY SUFFERS HEAVIEST LOSS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 265, 9 November 1939, Page 8

NAVY SUFFERS HEAVIEST LOSS.

EARLY DISASTERS. Every Casualty Has Been At Once Admitted. CLEARING OUT U-BOATS. British Olllclal Wireless. (Received 12.80 p.m.) KUGBY, November 8. In the eourse of his statement, Mr. Churchill said that during the opening phase of the war the Royal Navy had suffered greater lose of life than alj the other forces, French and British, on sea, on land and in the air combined. Every loss inflicted by th« enemy has been at once announced. In addition, since tlie outbreak of war one of our submarines, H.M.S. Oxley, has been destroyed by accidental explosion in circumstances which made publication inadvisable at tho time* The War at eea has been the only war whii'h lias been proceeding on a full scale, but tho House will not suppose that tho losses are the only events which have been taking placo at sea. "What I told tho Hotine under much reserve six weeks ago, I can r.ow repeat with more assurance, nameiy, we are gaining dellnito mastery over the U-boat attack. "In tho second four weeks of tho war, British tonnage lost by enemy action was 72,000 and was less than half the amount lost during tho first four weeks, and against .this loss we may set 52,000 tons captured 1 from the enemy, 27,000 tons purchased from foreigners and 57,000 tons of newly-built ships, leaving in threo four weeks a net gain of 04,000 tons. "During the first eight weeks of the war otlr net loss of tonnage has been lew than one-third of 1 per cent. This takes no account of important chartering operations from neutrals now in progress. It is interesting to note "that one of tho most valuable of recent prizes was captured from the enemy by the Ark Royal, which the German wirelees has sunk so many times. Germany's Absurd Claims. "When I recall tho absurd claims they shouted round tho world, I cannot resist saying that wo should l>c quite content to cngago tne entire German Navy, using only vessels which at one time or another they declared that they destroyed." Proceeding, Mr. Churchill said that I more than 10,04)0,000 ton* of cargo were brought.into this country in British and neutral ships in tho first eight weeks of tho war; less than 250,000 tons had been lost. Over 400,0(K) tons of cargo consigned to Germany hod been captured. Even taking into account the 2.*i(l,0()0 tons of ini|>orts which were lost, there remains a balance of over 100,000 tons in Britain's favour. Turning to the offensive against Üboats, Mr. Churchill said it was very dilllcult to give assured figures because many marauders sunk in deep waters left no trace behind. There must be doubt and dispute about every case in which there was not a survivor or a corpse or a wreck to show, but a conservative estimate would be that the losses in U-boats lay between two or four every week. There were, however, other factors to be considered which he had not hitherto mentioned, namely, German building. They must assume that perhaps two new U-boats were added every week to the hostile Strength.

"At any rate, our expectation is that vre miwt fnco 100 U-boats available in January, less whatever sinkings have occurred in the interval. It is a matter which oaiwat now be predicted. It will be seen, therefore, that although wo are making headway a long and unrelenting struggle lies before us.

Three Times as Many Hunters. "For this our preparations are moving forward on (he largest scale. Three time* as many hunting craft are now at work as at tho outbreak of war, and very large reinforcements of vessels specially adapted to this task will flow in increasingly from tho spring of 1040 onwards." He added: "I must warn the House again that continual losses mu<*t be expected. So immunity can lie guaranteed at any time. There will not, in this war, be any period where the seas will be completely safe, but neither will there i>e, L believe ami trust, any period when the full, necessary traffic of the Allies cannot 1m- carried 011. We shall suffer and we shall suffer continuously, but by perseverance and l>v taking measures oil the largest scale 1 feH and do not doubt that in the end we shall break their heart." In conclusion the First Lord naid: Without expressing over-ind.iilirent opinion. I feel that after the ninth week, as far its the sea is concerned, and the sea has often proved decisive, we tnav cherish good hopes that all will be well."