SHIPPING LOSSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24423, 5 November 1942, Page 3

SHIPPING LOSSES

SERIOUSNESS TO JAPAN WEAK SPOT IN ARMOUR (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 4 Shipping is Japan's Achilles' heel. The news to-day of fresh sinkings of Japanese warships and merchant ships encourages observers in the belief that the attrition tactics now being so successfully exploited inevitably must be seriously hampering not only the enemy's striking power but also his ability to stabilise his widespread conquests. "Although the steady toll of these losses cannot be expected to produce rapid results of a cataclysmic nature, it is none the less true that the process is inexorable and cumulative in its results," writes the Sydney Morning Herald's military correspondent. Building Capacity According to an authoritative estimate Japan has lost about 250 transports, supply vessels and merchant ships from her pre-war resources of about 2400 steamships aggregating 5,700,000 tons. While in the early stages of the war Japan was able to offset losses by the seizure of a substantial number of Allied ships, observers point out that this was non-recur-ring relief and that Japan must now draw on new construction. Japanese building capacity has been estimated at about 500,000 tons annually. The loss to Japan's navy is difficult of calculation, but more than 100 warships of all types (from aircraft-car-riers to submarines) have been claimed sunk or believed sunk. According to a statement made in Washington on Wednesday by the Secretary of the United States Navy, Colonel Frank Knox, the Navy is ultraconservative when reporting enemy damage. However, he added a warning that Japan could still concentrate a ileet of formidable proportions for the bitter fighting ahead. Both sides were now reorganising and strengthening their lines for a further major clash. American Submarines American observers have been particularly heartened by the latest successes of their submarines, which are stated to have been operating along Japanese convoy routes rather than with battle forces. Submarines have now sunk 86 of the enemy's ocean-going vessels and probably sunk 57 others, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Times. The belief that the United States has developed the best suomarines afloat has been expressed by Colonel Knox, who points out that to make their attacks on the enemy's transport shipping these submarines had to travel twice as far as the average German U-boat operating against American shipping in the Atlantic. Small Wooden Ships

To strengthen her merchant shipping position, admitted by the Japanese Transport Minister, Ino, to be "our weak spot," Japan, at home and in conquered territories, has pushed ahead with the construction of a great number of wooden ships of about 500 tons, but these, while they may alleviate her troubles, cannot solve the greatest mounting problem. Informed observers believe that while Japan can still muster enormous •shipping strength her resources of sea Supply and protection are being steadily strained, so that her hold along the 8000 miles periphery of her conquests is being correspondingly weakened to the point of eventual vulnerability. AMERICA AND VICHY DEFENCE OF POLICY (Reed. 10.55 p.m.) "WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 "When the records are unfolded and the public understands the facts now necessarilv withheld there will be less criticism of the continued recognition of Vichv bv the United States and of other foreign policy." This statement was made by the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, when asked bv journalists to comment on Mr. Willkie's criticism that "lack of courageous leadership nowhere is more plainly illustrated than in continued recognition of the vicious and subversive Vichy Government." Mr. Hull said he did not intend to engage in any controversy on this matter. The Government and State Department were entirely content with the course being pursued in relations with Vichy, as well as with other foreign policy. MORE BARBARITY GERMANS IN EUROPE LONDON, Nov. 3 The Germans shot 50 hostages from the village of St. Jurij, near Celje, in Slovenia, as a retaliation for the killing of the German district leader Kraus while on a recent tour of inspection. A Zurich message reporting this also says that the Germans are deporting the remainder of the population of St. Jurij. The village of Krasnja, near Kamnik. also in Slovenia, has been razed as a retaliation for the killing by guerilla forces of four German officers and a civilian. Germans shot the male population and moved the women and children pending their deportation to Germany. General Mikhailovitch, leader of the Yugoslav Patriot Army, in a message to Yugoslav patriots, said that Axis authorities had killed nearly 1.000,000 Yugoslavs and had left parts of Serbia and Slovenia in ruins. The Axis was maintaining more than 30 divisions in Yugoslavia, but the fighting against the Axis had not vet come to an end. DAY WITHOUT GAS BRIEF STRIKE IN SYDNEY (Reed. 0.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 4 A settlement has been reached in a labour dispute which left '250,000 Sydney consumers without gas to-day, and normal supplies are expected to be available to-morrow. The consumers affected included 600 munitions plants and 100 hospitals. Three hundred workers struck following a claim by 12 oilers and greasers for an additional 6s 9d a week which had been refused by the Conciliation Commissioner. The terms of the settlement have not been announced. Hundreds of thousands of Sydney residents to-day had only cold meals. The Sydney Sun says: "An example of the indecency and foolishness of strikes in wartime, it also sets a wholesome precedent in its brevity." OPTIMISTIC MINISTER CHUNGKING. Nov. :! "I left America with a feeling of a complete assurance in victory in the not foo distant future," said the Foreign Minister, Dr. T. V. Soong. on his return to China. "I have a feeling of restrained optimism that our greatest difficulties are over and the worst period passed." Dr. Soong added that the Americans were building a great, tough and unbeatable army. China had no territorial ambitions; she merely desired to recover her own territory, such as Manchuria and Formosa.