NAVAL CONVOY SYSTEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 14

NAVAL CONVOY SYSTEM

The convoy system as a protection for merchant shipping in war has been permanently adopted by the British naval authorities. The point was made perfectly clear by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when he introduced the Navy Estimates. Where trade was of great importance or density, he said, and liable to attack by surface vessels, submarines or aircraft, the Admiralty view was that a suitably escorted convoy would provide the best means of defence. When the system was adopted—or re-adopted, since it was an old device in naval warfare—early in 1917, it was not unanimously approved. There has been a good deal of controversy since the war about the attitude of various political leaders and the naval authorities toward its suggested use. In actual fact there was opposition from both merchant marine and naval sides. However, unrestricted submarine warfare, resumed by Germany at the end of 1916, had become such a menace to the fortunes of the Allies—indeed to their very existence—that convoying was adopted. It soon proved its value. In May, 1917, submarines sank 303 vessels of all nations, totalling 550,000 tons. By November the losses had fallen to 116 ships aggregating 259,000 tons. It is on record that a grand total of nearly 90,000 ships were convoyed during the war, under the British organisation, the losses being 436, or approximately one-half per cent., After such achievements it is not surprising to find provision for convoys and escorts part of the extended British naval programme. It is an important point for a country like New Zealand-, vitally concerned in seeing the ocean routes kept open for merchant shipping. Many ships from this Dominion, carrying food, were attacked, and a number destroyed during the last war. They would face a similar menace should war break out again. Thus it is rer assuring to lind precautions being planned.