WORST WEEK OF THE WAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 44, 22 February 1940, Page 5

WORST WEEK OF THE WAR

SHIPPING LOSSES NEUTRALS SUFFER BADLY iRy Telegraph—Frees Association—Copyright) LONDON. Feb. 20. Shipping losses by enemy action lor the week ended February 18, were the highest of the war. Neutrals were by far the greatest, sufferers. Total losses since the war began amount to 1,059,766 tons. The week’s totals are: — Five British, totalling 39,21’d tons. Fifteen neutrals. 46,801 tons m addition, the Admiralty has notified the loss of three British vessels totalling 7562 tons. Tmee neutrals, totalling 6c3J tons, veie not included in prevrous lists through iaei< of confirmation. The British Triumph wa a the on I; - sb.p lout in eoovoy last week. Neutrals numbering 160 were convoyed without loss. The Allied navies lasi ■week captured three German ship.; and two others wore sculticu, in addition to the beaching the Altmarck. Sinkings include the Finnish Wiijii (3396 tons), Norwegian Sangslad (4927 tons’, both not previously reported. GERMAN CLAIMS BRITISH MINELAYERS SUNK Received Feb. 21. 5.5 p.m. BERLIN. Feb. 20. An official agency statement says to-day’s raids by German planes sank two British minelayers and an armed merchantman. TWELVE SHIPS SUNK BELGIUM’S WAR LOSS BRUSSELS, Feb. 20. I It is officially announced that. Bei- I gium has lost 12 ships, of a total of ■ 50,000 tons, since the outbreak of war- I I FIVE DAYS ADRIFT GREW OF TORPEDOED NOKWE< i IA N STE AME R. Received Feb. 21. 11.5 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 21. After five days adrift in a crippled motor-boat, eleven members of the crew of a Norwegian steamer, believed to be the Teensstad, landed in Eire. A U-boat followed the Teenstad all night on February 14, ordered the crew 'to the boats and sank the ship.