THE WAR AT SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 1, 2 January 1943, Page 4

THE WAR AT SEA

GERMAN ADMISSION .

LONDON,- December 31. Allied shipping losses have fallert in December. The German Admiralty's spokesman, Admiral Luetzow, speaking on the Berlin radio, said this was be-r cause Britain was using new sea routes in 'the Atlantic which were ten times the size of Europe and also because of the weather, which in autumn and winter was rough, visibility usually being bad. In addition, the enemy was working to improve the defences against U-boats. Consequently, the temporarily low figures of shipping losses did not indicate that the enemy had mastered the U-boat threat. The German news agency announces that special underwater craft have lately been operating with U-boats. One type is comparable with a floating dockyard and can repair damaged Üboats on the high seas. Another carries supplies. There are also tank submarines operating far from home. The announcement referred to the "coming battle against enemy merchant ships on the seven seas and to the doors of the enemy key ports." It is officially stated .that during the past year British and Allied submarines; excluding Americans, have sunk or probably sunk 106 supply ships and 15 warships and damaged 39 supply ships and nine warships. Of these, 55 have been sunk or probably sunk and 20 damaged in the Mediterranean in the last three months.