TRADE PROTECTION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21575, 10 February 1940, Page 4

TRADE PROTECTION

ALLIED NAVAL METHODS The result of the Allied naval methods of protection for overseas trade is shown by the progressive decline in merchant ship losses in the first three months of war.

One of the chief methods of affording protection to sea-borne trade is the convoy system. This was introduced as soon as possible after the outbreak of war and has since been greatly extended. The efficiency of the convoy system of trade protection is shown by the fact that very few ships sailing in convoy have been attacked, and that less than one ship in 750 sailing in convoy has been sunk. Up to January 6, 1940, 5,911 merchant ships had sailed in convoy, and of these only 12 ships had been lost through enemy action. This is a percentage loss of one-fifth of one per cent. The success of all the measures taken for the protection of overseas trade is shown by the fact that, for every 1,000 tons of British shipping sunk, 110.000 tons has safely entered our ports.

In the four months September-De-cember. 1939, British merchant navy losses were 117 ships—4ls,99B tons. Moreover, losses in the first few weeks when British merchant ships were scattered all over the world, w’ere by far the greatest. Losses in October w'ere only half those in September, while November losses showed a further decrease and were only one-third those of September. December losses W’ere about the same as October.

Light is throw’n on Britain’s capacity to stand these losses by making the following comparison of average monthly losses:—

Thus British losses in this war are more than 30 per cent lower than the monthly average for the whole period of the last war, and 65 per cent lower than those for all 1917.

Ships. Tons. 1914-1918 .. .. .. 43.5 151.920 1917 alone .. ., . .. 99.8 310,803 1939 .. 29.25 103.999