SLIGHT FALL

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 228, 23 June 1941, Page 8

SLIGHT FALL

Shipping Losses For May BRITISH FIGURES Rate Still Viewed With Concern (British OHieluJ Wireless.) RUGBY, June 20. 'l'he monthly statement of shipping losses for May has been issued by the Admiralty. Seventy-three British vessels of 355,032 gross tons, 20 Allied vessels of 92,201 tons, and five neutral vessels of 14,095 tons have been lost. Once again, the total tonnage lost is about half that claimed by the enemy. The enemy's own losses for the mouth were 299.000 tons, and bis toral losses up to June 10 are: —German, 1,888,000 tons; Italian. 1,239,000 tons; shipping of countries now under enemy control, 84,000 tons. This gives a total of 3,211,000 tons. The British and Allied losses for May are slightly less than for the past two months, and, though there is no inclination to view them with anything but concern, it may be pointed out, first, that in the month’s total are included the relatively heavy losses suffered in the Mediterranean as a result of the operations in Crete, which should not recur; and. secondly, the fact that the German blockade of Britain has not been as successful as the enemy could have wished, has caused him to alter his tactics and send his U-boats and heavy bombers further afield, and, as often results from a change of tactics, initial successes were gained.