DEMAND FOR FACTS

Southland Times, Issue 24766, 10 June 1942, Page 5

DEMAND FOR FACTS

ALLIED SHIPPING LOSSES

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, June 8. The Daily Mail and The Daily Express in leading articles urge the Government to release figures regarding Atlantic shipping losses. The Daily Mail says: Disturbing reports from America say we are losing more ships than we are replacing. One report says the United Nations have lost 250 ships in under five months, and also that 24 ships were sunk in the Atlantic last week—one of the highest totals so far. These unofficial reports are likely to be more alarming than the official facts, which, bad as they might be, would be a spur to renewed effort. The Daily Express says: The publication of shipping losses here would have a salutary effect throughout public life. There would be a great public agitation to encourage and prod all concerned with shipbuilding. A message from Buenos Aires states that Argentina is protesting to Germany and Italy concerning the torpedoing of the tanker Victoria.

The Brazilian vessel Alegrete was torpedoed and sunk off South America. Forty-six of her passengers and crew are missing. A small United States merchantman was sunk in the Caribbean Sea with the loss of three lives. The captain of the Spanish steamer Albecoa informed the maritime police at Rio de Janeiro that a U-boat halted his ship and forced him to provide oil from the ship’s bunkers. FOR USE AGAINST U-BOATS

The House of Representatives of the United States has passed a Bill authorizing the construction of 200 dirigibles and blimps. The Senate had authorized 72, but the Navy asked for the number to be increased for use against submarines. . . Mr Carl Vinson, chairman of the Naval Committee of the House, said that lighter than air craft were rendering very worth-while service against submarines.