A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 113, 6 February 1941, Page 6

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Replacing Ship Losses

BRITAIN’S PROBLEM

In his review of the merchant shipping situation, which appears in today’s cable news, the British Minister of Shipping, Mr. Ronald Cross, said 1941 would be a hard year, iu which some of the most important aspects of the war would be at sea. His review is timely, in view of the recent threats of Hitler and Admiral Raeder that a supreme effort, is to be made by German U-boats to cut off supplies to Britain.

The British official figures of merchant shipping losses through enemy action for the last seven weeks have been more reassuring. During the week ended December S total losses were 23 ships of 101,190 tons, including 19 British ships of 86,740 tons. For the seven weeks from December 9 t<> January 26 the total losses have been 65 ships of 259,060 tons, of which 48 vessels of 185,08 G tons were British. This gives a weekly average for ths seven weeks of nine ships of 37,0W tons, of which seven ships of 2b,4-10 tons were British. Serious Losses

During the first nine months of the war 41,000 tons of British. Allied and neutral merchant shipping were lost, on the average, each week. After the German seizure of the French ports the rate of loss went up alarmingly, the average weekly rate from June to November last year being about 90,000 tons. In the first 12 months of the war ib2 merchant ships, aggregating 2,855,8.0 tons, were lost through enemy actum. Of this total, Britain lost 406 ships of 1611842 tons, Allied losses were 10s ships of 474,816 tons, and neutral losses 253 ships, totalling 769,212 tons. The second year of the war opened badly. From September 2, 1940. to January 26, a period of 21 weeks, total merchant ship losses been vessels 1,373,-08 tons, t f this large total. 235 ships of IJM9.<>~tons were British, o 9 of -li,4i- ton-* were Allied and 30 of 106,414 tons were neutral. This gives a weekb average for the 21 weeks of, le ships of 65,390 tons, of which British losses were 11 ships of 49,960 tons. Thus for the whole period of the war September 3, 1939, to January 26 1941, we find that merchant shipping losses total 1086 ships, aggregating 4,229,078 tons, the British proportion being 641 ships totalling ’ tons. For the four months of the war of 1914-18, BrUiJi losses were 2479 ships totalling <,re9,090 tons. Damaged Ships

Apart from the heavy actual losses of merchant ships sunk by the enemy, a great loss of carrying power is caused by the more or less serious damage done to many ships whicii succeed in making port. In such cares, not only is there the heavy loss ot cargo damaged, but the ships are out of operation for greater or less iy™ f y while repairs are being effected. Figures relating to ships damaged ny enemy action during the present "ar are not available, but during the war of 1914-18 British merchant vessels damaged or molested (but not stink) totalled ISSS ships aggregating 5.00..000 tons. Thanks largely to the ships put at Britain’s disposal by her allies and to the vessels captured from Germany and Italy, her present supply of merchant tonnage is not unsatisfactory. Since the beginning of the war s’IPP from all sources— -Norway. Hollano. Greece and Belgium, vessels requisitioned from France and Denmark, enemy tonnage captured, ships purchased abroad and chartered from neutral countries.' together with the output of British shipyards— aggregated some 1 million tons. Allowing for losses, the net addition to the total tonnage at Britain's disposal still amounts to some seven million tons. But Britain’s importing and exporting capacity has not been increased in proportion to the gain in shipping tonnage. A very large block of shipping has been diverted wholly to carrying men and munitions and supplies tor the Navy, Army and Air Force; the average length of voyage has been increased very considerably, and the average speed of ships on voyage has been materially reduced by the convoy system. Building Capacity

Since her gains from allies, neutrals aud captures are non-recurring, ne shall in future have to rely almost exclusively on the shipyards of Great Britain and the Empire and on the otu and new ships that can be acquired from the United States. Notwithstanding the high-pressure at whicii they are working—and new ships are being turned out in great and increasing numbers—-Britain’s own shipyards are scarcely in a position to replace merchant shipping at the weekly rate oL loss sustained during the last seven m< The potential shipbuilding capacity of Great Britain (excluding the Royal Dockyards) was estimated before the war at about two million gross tons of merchant ships and 500.000 tons of naval vessels per annum. But it. is doubtful whether the former figure can be attained, let alone surpassed, for, apart, from the growing volume of meet the increasing requirements of meet lite increasing requirements of the Navy which can be met. much more advantageously at home than abroad. It has been stated officially that 1,000.000 tons of naval ships are under construction in Great Britain. Ships From Abroad

Thus, it is apparent that Britain has to look abroad for making good a large part of her losses of merchant ships. In 1914-18, the Empire as a whole raised its output of merchant ships from 26.700 tons in 1913-14 to 6G.500 tons in 1917. 230,500 tons iu 1918 and 295.500 tons in 1919. Australia should be able easily to build a greater number of merchant ships than during the last war. Certainly, Canada has a greater potentiality and her 40 shipyards and repair works are already working to capacity. But'the whole resources of the Empire outside of Great. Britain are relatively small and,we shall hare to rely chiefly on the United States. Area* I a large number of second-hand ships have been acquired there. What the United States can accomplish was shown during and after the last war, when the output of merenan. ship tonnage rose from 1 5 ”,200 tons -m 1915 to 384.000 tons in 1916. 821.100 tons in 1917. 2.G02.200 tons in 1918 and 3.579.800 tons in 1919 rhe highest level ever reached in any country. The Ministry of Shipping has already arranged'for a large-scale British shipbuilding programme in America. (S.D.W.).