A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 6

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Merchant Ship Losses REDUCTION SHOWN For the uintii week in succession losses of merchant ships through enemy action are well below the weekly average for the whole period of the war. The latest available official figures, those for the week ended February 9. are less than one-half of the weekly average. The worst week of the war was that ended October 20, during which 45 ships totalling 198,030 tons, were sunk. The seven days to December 8 proved another black week, 23 ships totalling 1.01,190 tons being sunk. Since the latter dale, however, the position has been more reassuring, the average tonnage sunk during the nine weeks to February 9 being only 38,450 tons, as against, a weekly average since September 3, 19-10, of 63.490 tons. A higher figure must be expected for the week envied February 16, however, since this will include the several ships sunk bj a raider which attacked a convoy in the North Atlantic. Heavy Losses During the first 12 months of the war 762 merchant ships totalling 2,855,870 tons were lost through enemy action. This total included 406 British ships of .1.611,842 tons, 103 Allied ships of 474,816 tons and 253 neutral ships of 769.212 tons. Official figures so far published cover 23 weeks of the second year of the war to February 9. During this period merchant shjp losses have included 255 British vessels totalling 1,109,115 tons. 66 Allied ships of 241,786 tons and 31 neutral ships of 109,376 tons, making u total of 352 ships of 1,-160,277 tons. This gives a weekly' average for the 23 weeks of 15 ships of 63,490 tons, of which British losses averaged H ships of 48,220 tons. For the whole period of the war from September 3, 1939, to February 9, 1941, total merchant ship losses have been 1114 vessels of 4,316,147 tons. This total includes 661 British ships of 2,720,957 tons, 169 Allied ships of 716,602 tons and 284 neutral ships of 878,588 tons.

This gives a weekly average for the 75 weeks of 15 ships of 57,550 tons. The improvement shown since December 8 is indicated by a weekly average for the nine weeks of 10 ships of 38,450 tons, of which approximately eight were British of 27,200 tons. Enemy Suffers

Since the beginning of the war losses of German merchant ships by capture, sinking or scuttling total 1,330,000 tons, and Italian a total of 623,000 tons. In addition some 60,000 tons ot neutral shipping under enemy control has been- sunk. This makes the total enemy losses 2,013,000 tons, compared with a total British loss of 2,720,950 tons.

An Admiralty statement says that since January 7 the Germans have lost 73,000 tons of merchant shipping and the Italians 173,000 tons, in addition to a number of enemy-controlled neutral ships, bringing the total enemy losses for the five weeks to February 9 up to 257,000 tons, which compares with 209,110 tons, British. Allied and neutral, lost during the same period.

As has been said, losses during the week ended December 8 totalled 23 merchant ships of 101,190 tons, of which 19 were British vessels of 56,740 tons, three were Allied ships of 12,937 tons, and one neutral of 1513 tons. For the nine weeks since December 9, total losses have been 93 vessels of 346.130 tons, including 6S British ships of 244.579 tons, 21 Allied ships of 87,838 tons and four neutra' of 13,413 tons. Situation In Hand

While fluctuations iu the weekly merchant, ship losses must be expected from time to time, the recent improvement has beeu sustained long enough to indicate that the Royal Navy is once again getting control of the situation. The Nazis declared their “total blockade” of Britain last August, at a time when she was feeling the loss of French assistance a( sea and was endeavouring to redress the adverse balance of naval strength in the Mediterranean, following the entry of Italy into the war.

Six- months ago the Royal Navy was hard pressed for destroyers, escort ships and other anti-submarine vessels and merchant ship losses became progressively serious. As the First Lord of the Admiralty points out the British Navy since last June has had to perform single-handed the work which in 1917-18 was shared between Britain. France, Italy, the United States aud Japan, which mustered between them some 900 destroyers. Even so, during 1917, the weekly losses of merchant ship tonnage were considerably higher than they have been during* the last six months. Navy’s Great Burden

It is difficult to measure the tremendous burden carried single-handed oy the Royal Navy since the collapse of France. It is true that British seaborne trade has suffered grievously heavy losses by enemy action; but for everv ship sunk, hundreds have completed their voyages. The Navy has been faced with the onerous task of pat rolling the ocean routes of the world, aud, despite the fractional losses of merchant shipping due to enemy raiders, it has done its job well Tlie oceans are wide and vast and cruisers are far too few.

While patrolling the oceans, the Navy has had also to provide escorts for many convoys. Despite the shortage of escort ships, Hie Navy iu recent months has convoyed more than 3000 merchant ships of which only nine have been lost through enemy action. In The Mediterranean

And all this time, too, the Royal Navy has not only guarded Britain from invasion, but it has made possible the triumphant campaign against Italy in northern Africa, materially assisted the Greek campaign iu Albania, and inflicted heavy losses on the Italian Navy and its bases.

The Royal Navy has established com plete mastery of the Mediterranean, through which it has passed convoy after convoy of ships carrying troop.and supplies for tlie British and Greek armies. It lias co-operated closely with the Army and the Air Force in attacking enemy positions in Africa, and it has carried out bold and successful bombardments of bases in Italy.

On the European front its duties extend from the Arctic Ocean to the Strait of Gibraltar, and thence to the Dardanelles. With all its many preoccupations the Navy has strength to spare to meet the situation iu the Far East. In fact, there is no end to the jobs the Navy has to attend to.— (S.D.W.).