ALLIES’ VIGIL AT SEA

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 94, 15 January 1940, Page 8

ALLIES’ VIGIL AT SEA

Full Surveys Of Gains

And Losses

PROGRESS MADE

Big Naval Expansion

Under Way

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 14, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON. January 13.

An official statement regarding the war at sea says that despite the enemy’s utmost use of mines and submarines since the outbreak of the war the British average monthly tonnage loss has been only twothirds of the average in the last war, and one-third of that of 1917. which was the worst year. The naval losses have been barely halt those of the first four months o f the last war. For every 1000 tons of shipping sunk 110,000 tons have arrived safely. To December 30 the contraband control had seized 538,000 tons, which was 212,000 tons over the total lost in the same period.

Since tlie outbreak of the war Britain had lost one batleship, sunk: one battleship, damaged: one aircraftcarrier, sunk; one 8-inch gun cruiser, damaged; one 6-inch gun cruiser, damaged; three destroyers, sunk, one of which was in a collision.'; and one submarine lost accidentally.

On the other hand, Germany’s losses include one pocket-battleship, sunk; one 8-inch gun cruiser, damaged, possibly sunk; one 6-inch gun cruiser, sunk; one 6-inch gun cruiser, damaged, possibly sunk; also a large number of submarine losses. It was emphasized that these losses did not materially affect the margin of Allied naval strength, which had gained as a result of substantial additions.

The British naval losses, including auxiliaries, in the first four months of the last, war were 29 ships of 143,000 tons, compared with 18 ships of 78,000 tons from September 3 to January 3.

Moreover, there were at present nearly a million tons of warships being built in Britain, while Germany was finding it most difficult to reach the U-boat construction rate of 1917, which was 87 throughout the year.

It. is expected that the British; naval personnel will be expanded by at least 50,000 in .1940. Applications for naval service greatly exceed the requirements. French Navy’s Work. , Also in the first four months the British merchant ship losses have been 117 ships, totalling 415,99 S tons. The rate, however, is declining, and it is 30 per cent, lower than the rate during the whole of the last war and 65 per cent, lower than in 1917; The close co-operation of the British and French navies is likely to be one of the decisive factors. The composition of the French Navy is particularly suited for hunting, patrolling and convoying, for which the 32 light cruisers are most valuable. There is reasoii to believe that the French naval contribution is being increased further.

A Paris message states that the Minister of the French Military Marine, M. Cesar Campinchi, reviewing the Allies’ naval achievements since the outbreak of the war, recalled that they had ensured tlie freedom of Allied commerce and abolished the German seaborne trade except in tlie Baltic. They had shut up -100 ships in neutral portsThe French Navy had sunk 10 U-boats, examined 239 vessels ant) intercepted 022,000 tons of Germanbound merchandise.

A.whole army had arrived from the French colonies-without losing one man, and the arms, equipment and supplies had been safely burned. A total of 1300 Allied ships and 200 convoys escorted by French light forces had crossed tlie seas.

Twenty German ships of a tonnage of 105,000 had been captured and IS with a tonnage of 123,000 had scuttled themselves.

French submarines bad broken do international law. while 43 breaches had been atributed to tlie German navy.

Allied battleships had gone one and a half limes round the world seeking pinites. French cruisers had been at sea for over 100 days ami the Allies together had sunk 30 U-boats. No French warship had been damaged.

The French mercantile marine had lost. 11 ships totalling 55,771 tons, of which submarines sank seven totalling 46,853 tons, representing two per cent, of tlie fleet in September. Tlie measures against U-boats were proving effective, and the Allied tonnage sunk had decreased from 137.084 tons in September to 33,714 tons in December. Tlie monthly average of Allied nnd neutral shipping submarined in llrt!) was 184.000 tons compared with 309.000 tons in 1917-18. The mine danger was also being met. Mines sank 114.981 tons in November and only 95,177 in December.

France's shipyards were actively engaged in building 126 warships.