BATTLE OF ATLANTIC

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 July 1941, Page 5

BATTLE OF ATLANTIC

FEWER SINKINGS DURING JUNE 79 5H1P5—329,296 TONS LONDON, June 15. Good news about the Battle of the Atlantic was released by the Admiralty' cnis morning, showing a reduction in shipping losses. The Admiralty has announced that the mercantile shipping losses during June were seventy-nine ships, of a tonnage of 329,296. This is the lowest total since January. The losses of ships through enemy action during june, were 116,000 tons less than in May, or 25 fewer vessels. There were seventy-nine British and Allied The total of June losses of ships includes 52 British of 228,284 tons. Allied ships lost numbered 19, of 82,727 tons. Neutral ships totalled eight, of 18,285 tons. The number of British shins sunk is less than in any month during the past twelve months, excepting January. The total losses show a decrease on last May of 25 ships and 168,551 tons gross. The total losses of ships in the war —British, Allied and neutral—is is now 1738 ships which have aggregated 7,118,122 tons. The monthly average for the war is 324 thousand tons, including losses during the Dunkirk and Greek evacuations. After to-day, Britain will not continue to publish at selected intervals the shipping losses due to enemy action, because the publication gives valuable information to the enemy. However, from time to time, the Admiralty will consider the publication of the losses as may be required. An authoritative spokesman, commenting on the merchant shipping losses, said: “We can assume that Hitler cannot be but disappointed at the results thus far. What must be the thoughts and morale of the enemy submarine crews and airmen engaged in the Battle of the Atlantic? The submarine crews have to look forward to an ever-increasing attack from the sea, the air, and from escorts, also to increased help for us from America, and the constant replacement of the ships that they sink by others built in our own and in American and Dominion yards. They have been sinking, sinking and sinking now for 20 months, but still they see large convoys all over the Atlantic.” Well-informed people have explained that the enemy has gone farther and farther afield in his efforts to find new hunting grounds for British ships. It was stated: “The enemy continues to make just as fantastic claims as ever in the hope of finding out what has really happened, as reports from his U-boat commanders and airmen are necessarily inconclusive. Hitherto we have obliged him by giving a monthly check, and we don’t intend to do so in future.” ENEMY CLAIMS. LONDON, July 15. Regarding the Battle of the Atlantic. the Germans claim to have sunk during June 778,283 tons of merchantmen!. The Italians claim to have sunk 98,500 tons. The total of .the Axis claim, compared with the actual losses, represents an exaggeration of about 165 per cent. It is estimated that the enemy tonnage captured, sunk, and scuttled to July 10, totalled 3,391,000 tons.