Evening star., 1939-09-23
British Anticipate
Great Losses in
U-boaf Warfare
But Assures Citizens
Subs Cont Maintain
Adequate Blockade
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Sept. 23-The British
government assured the home front
today in a communique that enemy
submarines alone can never main
tain an adequate blockade" but
warned that I'VE may have to en-
dure great losses at sea before the
present war is ended"
Despite reports Of fresh losses in
flicted by German undersea raiders,
the ministry Of information de-
clared energetic measures" taken
by the royal navy and air force had
proved the submarine to be "very
vulnerable"
Inhabitants of the Hisoi Islands
of the Norwegian coast yesterday
reported the torpedoing of the Brit
ish freighter Akenside, 1884 tons,
bound from Lythe, England, to Ber-
gen with cargo of coal. The crew
of 26 escaped in lifeboats and was
picked up by Norwegian warship.
With the sinking of the Akenside,
Britain had lost about IS merchant
men.
Patrol Boat Hits Mine.
The British patrol boat Kittiwake
struck mine in the English Chan
mel and was damaged, an official
announcement disclosed. Five of
the crew were believed dead and two
injured.
The admiralty said the Kittiwake
struck a mine September 20. The
two injured men were taken to a
hospital when the patrol boat re-
turned to its base for repairs.
The Finnish steamer Martti-Rag-
mar, loaded with wood pulp for Eng
land, was sunk today of the south
ern coast of Norway. Members of
the crew, all safe, said party from
a German submarine boarded the
freighter and destroyed it with ex-
plosives planted in the hold.
War Council in Agreement.
Another communique, issued last
night from No. 10 Downing Street
followed meeting of the Supreme
War Council of Great Britain and
France, announced complete agree
ment" on the course to be followed
in the European war.
The communiQue, which failed to
specify where in England the meet
ing was held, said the council had
considered the question of NUM-
tions and supplies, and agreement
was reached on procedure for CO.
ordinating and perfecting the ar
rangements to be made by the two
governments"
Representing France at the meet
ing were Premier Daladier, Gen.
eralissimo Maurice Gustave Came
lin, Minister of Munitions Raoul
Dautry and Admiral Jean Darlan.
Britain was represented by Prime
Minister Chamberlain, Foreign Sec
retary Lord Halifax. Lord Chatfield,
minister for coordination of de-
tense, and Maj. Gen. Hastings l..
1smay, secretary of the Imperial De-
fense Committee.
Tighten Blockade of Reich.
Meanwhile the admiralty sought
to tighten the naval blockade to
keep vital supplies from reaching
Germany and issued new detailed
instructions to British ships passing
through the Dover Straits. Shipping
previously had been warned Of mines
being laid on the northeast coast of
Ireland.
British sources expected that, once
| the Royal Navy mastered the sub
marine peril, Germany might re-
sort to other weapons to harass
enemy shipping.
1t was pointed out Germany has
pocket battleships especially de-
signed to raid merchant shipping.
The British indicated belief their
battle cruisers would be able to run
down these raiders.
Press Voices Criticism.
There was some criticism in the
English press of government meas
| ureS 10 meet tne war supplies and
munitions problem.
The Manchester Guardian said
editorially, "a very strong tide of
criticism of the government is set
ting in"
Whatever we may or may not
be doing in the prosecution of the
war on land, on the sea and in the
Eair," the Guardian said. I'VE GER
tainly are not doing a good job of
it on the home front.
For all the warning we had, for
all the time Hitler gave us to pre-
pare ourselves, it may be doubtful
whether. at the present rate of prog
ress we shall organize the whole
manhood and womanhood of the
country for many months"