ATLANTIC BATTLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20526, 9 April 1941, Page 7

ATLANTIC BATTLE

ALLIED SHIP LOSSES 77575 TONS FOR WEEK NO SERIOUS ALARM CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY (E)i-c. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Rccd. 10.30 a.m. RUGBY, April 8. Merchant ships lost by enemy action during the week ended at midnight on March 30 are announced to be 20, representing a total of 77,575 tons, comprising 13 British vessels totalling 58,879 tons, five Allied ships of 14,975 ions, and two neutral of 3721 tons.

The German claims for this week total 187,000 tons and the Italians claim 12.000 tons.

It is notified that some ships which are overdue in the eightieth week ended March 1G must now be regarded as lost. The British’ losses increased in this period therefore from 20 vessels of 76.894 tons to 27 of 107,794 tons and Allied ships from six to 16,821 ions to nine of 37,617 tons. The total for the week is now 146,098 tons, instead of 94,402 tons, but even then this is only about half the total claimed by the enemy to have been sunk during that period. Relentless Struggle It is felt in naval circles that although the latest figures show no great increase, the corrections for the eightieth week add a considerable figure to the total losses. They demonstrate the vital importance of the great “Battle of the Atlantic” which is being waged every minute of the night and day. On this battle may very well depend the result of the war, but it is not regarded as a cause for serious alarm.

It should be realised that although great land and sea battles may seem of greater immediate interest than the long-drawn battle in the Atlantic which may last for months, great sacrifices and endurance are being continually demanded of the merchant service.

The navy staff work in organising convoys must not be under-rated as it is a task of extraordinary complexity. Convoys cannot run with the regularity of suburban trains. Fogs, gales and last-minute diversions may delay the start as well as sudden information of fresh minefields and often the strengthening of escorting ships in view of new dangers.

Lost Time in Assembly

Again, in the Atlantic chase, it may seem impossible not to get within range of the enemy before dusk, and yet visibility may suddenly decrease from 10 to two or three miles and nothing be seen. The rendezvous of convoys is not a landmark like a church tower or crossroads, but a spot where there is nothing to distinguish it from the rest of the ocean and the assembly of individual ships may mean hours lost in the progress of the convoy.

The heavy figures now announced which may make the weekly average 98,000 tons, howevef, do not affect the conviction in informed naval circles that Britain will eventually win the Battle of the Atlantic.

The total shipping convoyed, including coastal but excluding military convoys, since the beginning of the war is 20,000,000 gross tons, representing a carrying capacity of approximately 300,000,000 cargo tons, the greater part of which arrived unmolested by the enemy.