SHIPPING LOSSES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 145, 21 June 1941, Page 7

SHIPPING LOSSES

REDUCED IN MAY Heavy Toll Taken Of Axis Vessels Rec. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, June.2o. The monthly statement of shipping losses for IVray has beep issued by the Admiralty. A total of 73 British vessels, of 355,032 gross tons. 20 Allied vessels, of 92,201 torn;, and five neutral vessels, of 14,095 tons, have been lost. Once again the total tonnage lost is about half that claimed by the enemy. The enemy's own losses for the month were 299.000 tons, and his total losses up to June 10 are: German 1,888,000 tons; Italian, 1,239,000 tons; and the shipping of countries now under enemy control, 84,000 tons, giving a total of 3,211,000 tons. British and Allied losses for May are slightly less than for the past two months, and, though there is no inclination to view them with anything but concern, it may be pointed out (1) that in the month's total are included the relatively heavy losses 1 suffered in the Mediterranean as a result of the operations in Crete, - which should not recur; (2) the fact that the German blockade of Britain , has not been as successful as the enemv could have wished has caused him to alter his tactics and send his U-boats and heavy bombers further afield, and. as often results from a change of tactics, initial successes were/gained. Prince Olaf, of Norway, made a tour of the Tyne to-day. when he visited Norwegian ships or * the river and conversed with the officers and crews. | Eire needs at least 30 ships in order to ensure essential supplies, ' I declared Mr. Sean Lemass, Minister ! of Supplv, in the Dail, when seeking a vote of £102.000 for a new Irish i shipping company. He added that l shipowners were prepared to accept ; onlv dollars, but the supply of dolI lars at the disposal of Eire was I extremely limited. The vote was approved.