SHIPPING LOSSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23758, 11 September 1940, Page 10

SHIPPING LOSSES

FIRST. YEAE OP iWABi " fl EC ENT BAD WEEK IDEAL SUBMARINE WEATHER JJelegrmph—Presa Association—Copyrisrhfc LONDON, Scpji. 10 Brffcish merchant shipping losses in the first year ofwar totalled just oyer 1,500,000 tons. In spite of this, shipping in commission to-day is greater than at the outbreak of war. Merchant shipping losses in the week ended midnight, September 1, amounted to 84,000 tons. Britain lost 11 ships, totalling 56,000 tons, the Allies, five ships, amounting to 15,000 tons, and neutrals, four ships, of a total tonnage of about 13,000. . * r The Admiralty states that the comparatively heavy loss in the week must be attributed to ideal weather for submarine attack. In addition to the 1,500,000 tons lost by Britain, the Admiralty states, the Allies have lost 463,000 tons since war began, and the neutrals more than 769,000 tons. Germany and Italy have lost 1,250,000 tons, and about 33,000 tons under their control has been sunk by the Allies. POLITICS AND WAR SOUTH AFRICAN MOVES GENERAL SMUTS CONFIDENT (Received September 10, £>. so p.m.) CAPETOWN. Sept. 9 A motion by General Hertzog that the Speaker of the South African Assembly should be given power to convene Parliament, if he thought it expedient, after consulting the Prime Minister, was defeated by 82 votes to 75. The Prime Minister. General Smuts, in a speech, said the clearest proof of support for his policy was the success attending reliance on volunteers for the army. "We have 100,000 men under arms to-day," he said. "I could get any number." PAYING THE PRICE AUSTRALIA WARNED SACRIFICES FOR LIBERTY SYDNEY. Sept. 10 Declaring that the Australian Government would support Britain to the bitter end, the Attorney-General, Mr. W. M. Hughes, at Brisbane last night, gave a warning that the Government would be forced to do many distasteful things because the people must be prepared to pay the price in the fight for liberty. SHIPS IN COLLISION PASSENGERS LANDED SAFELY LONDON, Sept. 10 Seventy-two passengers, and 24 members of the crew of the British steamer Lairdscastle, which sank off the Scottish coast after a collision with the Vernon City, have been landed safely in Scotland. The passengers and crew were rescued by a British destroyer, which reached the scene of the collision two hours after receiving a call for help. By this time all had taken to the boats. No lives were lost. Built at Ardrossan in 1924, the Burns and Laird Lines, Limited's, steamer Lairdscastle, of 1945 tons, was one of a fleet of 12 vessels operated by the line. All are registered at Glasgow. The 4748-ton steamer Vernon City, owned by the Beardon Smith Line. Limited, was built at Sunderland in 1929 and is registered at Bideiord.