BATTLE OF THE SEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1942, Page 3

BATTLE OF THE SEAS

ENTERING ON GRAVER STAGE PUBLICATION OF LOSSES. DEMANDED AS STIMULUS TO NEW EFFORT. LONDON, June 19. British Press and public speakers arc showing .increasing concern at I lie serious shipping situation. Labour Party members agree with the oft-repeated newspaper opinion that disclosure of the gravity of the situation would stimulate the war effort, not only in shipbuilding, and many members of Parliament of all parties are expected to support 'Labour. “The Times” in a leading article says: “The hidden battle of the seas —perhaps the battle of all battles in this war —is inadequately understood and partly ignored by the public. Lack of knowledge must blunt appreciation of the quintessential importance of the sea in the scheme of victory. Losses this year have been heavy and there is no reason to doubt the American statement that U-boats are being commissioned more quickly than they are being destroyed. England and America are maintaining and supplying active fronts in five Continents and seven seas. This cannot be sustained to victory by mere replacement of ships. It requires bolder and more crippling action against U-boats at sea and their bases, training centres, and construction works. The battle of the seas is entering a graver stage, in which the daring and imaginative use of our resources —naval, air and land —will be needed to ensure survival.” A “Daily Mail” leader says: “General Rommel has succeeded in his main objective of so battering the Eighth Army as to necessitate our sending large convoys round the Cape to Egypt with replacements. A further severe strain is thus placed on our shipping. Our shipping resources are diminishing and our needs increasing. The whole course and length of the war depend on when this state of things is reversed. The Government made a mistake when it ceased to publish details of our losses. If losses had been published monthly, public opinion would have ensured speedier measures to prevent losses and furnish replacements.”