GRAVE ANXIETY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 144, 20 June 1942, Page 5

GRAVE ANXIETY

SHIPPING LOSSES Demand For Publication Of Figures In Britain United Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON, June 19. Allied shipping losses continue to worry members of the House of Commons. Mr. Emanuel Shinwell (Lab., Durham) asked in the House whether the Prime Minister would reconsider his decision not to announce shipping losses. Pointing out that losses were published in the United States, Mr. Shinwell said: "Is it not time that the British people were made aware of the gravity of the position?"

Mr. C. R. Attlee, deputy-Prime Minister: That does not affect the validity of the reasons already given for non-publication of losses.

Earl Winterton: If the grievous, but not irremediable, position which is known to many of us is not made known to the public the British people in the next two months will receive one of the nastiest shocks of their lives. Mr. Shinwel!: The figures for April published in the United States disclose a very alarming state. Bolder Action Desired The British Press and public speakers are showing increasing concern at the serious shipping situation. Labour members of Parliament agree with the oft-repeated newspaper opinion that disclosure of the gravity of the situation would stimulate the war effort, not only in shipbuilding. Many members of the House of Commons, of all parties, are expected to support the Labour request for publication.

The Times says: "The hidden battle of the seas—perhaps the battle of all battles in this war—is inadequately understood and partly ignored by the public through lack of knowledge. There must be blunt appreciation of the quintessential importance of the sea in the scheme of victory. Losses this year have been heavy, and there is no reason to doubt the American statement that U-boats are coming into commission more quickly than they are being destroyed.

"England and America are maintaining and supplying active fronts on five continents and on the seven seas. This cannot be sustained to victory by the mere replacement of ships. It requires bolder and more crippling action against U-boats at sea and their bases, training centres and construction works.

Severe Strain on Ships "The battle of the seas is entering a graver stage in which daring and the imaginative use of our resources, naval, air and land, will be needed to ensure survival."

The Daily Mail says: "Rommel has succeeded in his main objective of so battering the Bth Army as to necessitate our sending large convoys round the Cape to Egypt with replacements. A further severe strain is thus placed on our shipping. "Our shipping resources are diminishing and our needs increasing. The whole course and length of the war depend on when this state of things is reversed. The Government made a mistake when it ceased to publish details of our losses. If the losses had been published each month public opinion would have ensured speedier measures to prevent losses and furnish replacements."