Evening star., 1939-09-26
Britain Winning Warfare on Sea-
Churchill Tells Cheering House;
French Repu|se Germans Attack
Nozis' Cargo Loss
Is Greater Than
Britain S, He Says
Sy the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
LONDON, Sept. 26.-The British
war cabinet announced to Parlia-
ment today the defensive arming Of
many merchant ships and the
seizure of more German goods since
the war started than Great Britain
lost in submarine attacks.
Winston Churchill, first lord OF
the admiralty. made this disclosure
in the House of Commons after
Prime Minister Chamberlain, in his
fourth war report. had announced
complete agreement with France on
procedure for co-ordinating and
perfecting" munitions and supplies.
Mr.. Churchill, after saying the
British convoy system now was in
full operation and merchant ships
all over the world were being armed
to fight off submarines and air
planes, declared:
so far as the submarine is con-
cerned the British Empire and all
Its friends in every quarter OF the
globe will be able to develop their
immeasurable latent forces, and
their man power can be concentrated
In ever growing intensity on the task
we have in hand, in which task we
have only to persevere to conquer"
He was cheered loudly on this
statement.
Nazis Lost $1,000 Tons More.
Asserting that Britain in the first
fortnight of war had "seized and
converted to our own use $1,000 tons
more of German merchandise than
have been sunk in our own ships,
Mr.. Churchill added:
I'VE have got more supplies IN
this country this afternoon than we
should have had if no war had been
declared and if no U-boat had gone
into action
Mr.. Chamberlain told the House
that Germany already possessed
stocks of raw materials and food
stuffs she has to import, so that
quick results from the economic
blockade should not be expected.
But he said If Britain could stop
the flow of raw materials Germany
needs for "the functioning Of her
war industries, the result will be to
effectively cripple her power to pro-
long hostilities.
Mr.. Churchill gave a detailed
statement of what Britain is doing
to crush the submarine menace.
More Attacks Than in 1914.
I'm a short time the immense
mercantile marine of the British
Empire will be armed" he said. "All
guns and equipment are ready at
various stations, together with
trained gunners to man them and
instruct the seamen."
"Our attacks on submarines" he
asserted, have been five or six
times as numerous as in any equal
period in the last war;
The admiralty head admitted Sc
rious losses of British shipping in
submarine attacks III the first week
of the war, but declared that unde-
Tended British vessels were attacked
at the outbreak of hostilities "by
lurking U-boats carefully posted be-
torehand"
1--WE replied in two ways-first by
o convoy system which could be
quickly put into effect for outgoing
ships but was more difficult for
homeward bound vessels. This is
now in full operation both ways.
"Our second reply to- the U-boat's
attack is to arm all our merchant
vessels and fast liners with defen-
sive ornaments against both U-boats
and airplanes. For a fortnight
armed ships have been continually
leaving the harbors In large num-
bers."
"A third reply" he continued, els
of course, the British attack on the
U-boat. This is being delivered with
the utmost vigor and intensity.
"One-Fourth" of Subs Sunk.
"By the end of October we expect
TO have three times the hunting
force which was operating at the
outbreak of the war;
He added that the six or sever
submarines which Britain main
tains already have been destroyed
constituted "one-tenth of the Ger.
man submarine fleet or one quarter
or possibly one third of the U-boat.
actively employed" by Germany.
I'm the first week we lost $500
tons, the second week, $4,000 tons
the third week, 81 900 tons. In thu
last six days-just 5000 TONS"
The House cheered uproariously
Mr.. Churchill went on to declare
that one submarine commander whit
had sent him a personal message
by the crew of sunken ship ii!
now in our hands.
He praised the fleet air arm ane
the Royal Air Force alike for playing
important parts "in this stern war.
fare" against undersea attackers.
"U-Boats Now Prefer Neutrals."
The members roared and cheeree
when Mr.. Churchill declared "th'
U-boats now seem to prefer neutra
shipping to our own" He referred
to several sinkings of neutral ship
by submarines in the last few days
Detailing gains from Britain!
control system, as compared with
losses from submarine warfare, Mr.
Churchill said that "even in oil
where we were unlucky in losint
tankers, we have lost 10000 tons il
the hrst fortnight and have gainee
$4,000 from the enemy, apart from
enormous stores we have brought
safely into the country in the ordi'
nary way"
Naxis Can't Replace Personnel.
While remarking that many Ger
man submarine commanders hae