BRITISH SHIPS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1940, Page 6

BRITISH SHIPS

MINISTER S REVIEW. (Per British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 25. The Minister of Shipping (Mr Cross) reviewing the year’s war stated that British merchant vessels unceasingly sailed the oceans of the world. He spoke of fine achievements of the merchant service s which lie described as ‘the lifeline of the British peoples’’ in ii.'ging cargoes from over the world to British ports. Mr Cross explained that whatever plans the Government made, they would be of no use unless the merchant fleet was able to carry out its duties. “It is a fact beyond dispute that the whole of our war effort, indeed our very existence, depends on the ships and men who work them,’’ said the Minister. “Consequently, the vital question is how far shipping losses have been replaced.” The losses sustained by enemy action were published fot; the world to (know, but as a result of new building and purchases, but mostly because of ‘the captures from the Germans and Italians, there was more shipping fiy--ing the British flag- now than when -war started. In addition there were large numbers of neutral ships working for Britain.

“Liable to attack throughout by submarine, raider, mining, aircraft, and more recently, the E-boat, one might well have "supposed our position would be worse than the countries whose ships bolted for safety,” he said, “but the fact is, we have lost by enemy action only about one-eighth of our prewar merchant fleet. We have made up, « •and more than 'made‘up this, and every other loss. Captures, new building, nnd transfers from foreign flags, 'brought us reinforcements in excess of our losses. The overseas supply position, and consequently the shipping position, has taken on a wholly different appearance. Timber, steels, ferroalloys, which formerly came from Scandinavia must now be carried from'North America. Fron ore formerly derived from Sweden, Norway“and^Franee, is fetched to-day from more distant sources. Australia and New Zealand dairy produce take the place of ls?fnis?i-and Dutch, supplies. Tim workshops of the United States are turning out engineering products, which in the past came from Belgium. Moreover, the ships bearingthe products of India and the Far East•are no longer ordinarily routed through the Mediterranean, and the longer voyage round the Cape means a. larger number of ships are required to bring equivalent cargoes. The scale of on:* shipping needs therefore, is greatly augmented, but there is also the fact that the fortunes of war have brought us augmented shipping resources on a commensurate scale. Germany, by the inexcusable assaults on Poland, Den...rn.ark, Norway-*-,Holland,,.rand.-Belgium, put out of employment great quantities of tonnage, Which formerly, served the commercial needs of those peaceful lands. 1 A greater part of this tor.nag? is now carrying cargoes for the Allied cause, and compensates for the greater distances that' many supplies must now be carried.” " .

Mr Cross added that a great fleet of British, Allied and neutral vessels was bringing England between four and five million tons of import's, monthly (enough to meet essential needs) compared with a peacetime total of about six million monthly. They were beginning the second, year of the war, in a good position to feed the people and supply the factories.