BRITAIN’S NAVAL LOSSES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 69, 14 December 1939, Page 10

BRITAIN’S NAVAL LOSSES

New Construction More Than Compensates GROWING ANXIETY IN GERMANY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 12. The enormous naval construction programme which has been greatly increased since the outbreak of war more than compensates lor the losses suffered by the British Navy. Nearly a million tons of warships are now under construction, and many important units are neaiing completion, while the anti-sub-marine forces have already more than trebled since the war began. As was announced by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Churchill, all the losses suffered by enemy action are announced at the earliest possible moment. These losses to date are the Royal Oak, the Courageous, the destroyers Gipsy and one submarine, representing 55.649 tons displacement. In addition, the armed merchant cruiser Rawalpindi and four small mine-sweepers, totalling 15.369 tons gross, have been lost. There is evidence of growing German anxiety in view of the situation resulting from these facts, and it is significant that in a recent broadcast to Italy the German claim that her navy had been strongly reinforced was supported by the statement that the Danube flotilla had been incorporated. This consists of two river patrol vessels and a few motor-launches designed solely for river work. The British merchant shipping losses due to enemy action since the war began totalled 82 ships at the end of November, with a tonnage just under 300,000. The losses were highest in September, and declined in October, when offensive measures against U-boats and defensive measures for convoy came into operation. There was a further decline in November, when the losses represented only onethird of those in September, despite the fact that intensive German minelaying began in the middle of November. . As already reported, merchant shipping sunk in home waters during the period from December 3 to 9 totalled 23,432 tons, which, with the Doris Star, sunk in the South Atlantic on December 3, made the week's total losses 34,518 tons.DETAINED TRAWLERS French Assurance Given WASHINGTON, December 12. The French Ambassador has given an assurance that the five trawlers purchased by France and which are being detained will not be used for belligerent purposes', but their release depends on an official decision that the transfer comes within the Neutrality r\.ct, otherwise they may be forfeited. EXPLANATION OF MYSTERY SHIP VERA CRUZ, December 12. It is semi-officially stated that the mystery warship reported as appearing off the coast nightly was the United States destroyer Davis, which is believed 'to be on neutrality patrol.