Evening star., 1940-06-19
Collapse Of France
May Add 10 Britain S
Merchant Fleet
Continental Ally Had
About 5000, 900 Tons
When War Begon
BY OLIVER MCKEE.

~ OAA AAb 4sAO1AGLs
Will Britain take over the French
merchant marine? As France goes
down, observers are asking this
question. Though the Nazis con-
quered Norway, Holland and Bel
GUM, Britain has acquired the
greater part of the merchant fleets
OF these countries. At the outbreak
Of the war, France had approx
mately 100000 tons of merchant
shipping. AS the British Empire
mobilizes for fight to the finish
against Hitlerism. this fleet would be
q valuable addition to Britain's
maritime power.
Norway had merchant fleet last
September Of 4,834, 900 tons, accord
ing to Lloyds Register of Shipping.
Tankers comprised nearly half the
total tonnage. The Netherlands
fleet of 100000 tons consisted of
about $500 vessels. The Neither
lands total included 100000 tons of
tankers. Belgium had about 200
merchant ships, with an aggregate
tonnage Of 100000. Tankers COM
prised about one-quarter Of the
total tonnage.
Tankers Vital in Oil Supply.
Protected by the British Navy,
these ships are helping to carry the
empires trade and military SUD-
plies. The additional tankers are
OF particular value. With the ex-
tension OF the war to the Mediter-
ranean. which has made it difficult
II not impossible to obtain oil from
the pipe lines which connect the
Mosul fields with the Mediterranean
ports OF Haifa and Tripoh, Britain
must depend on more distant
sources for her oil supply. With
longer distances to travel, more
tankers are needed.
When the war started Great
Britain had nearly $4,000, 900 tons of
shipping, the worlds largest mer-
chant fleet, with 100000 additional
tons in her dominions and colonies.
Through May S. according to Lloyd's
Register. Britain has lost 191 ships
OF 738,OOO tons. The losses to Allied
shipping. including Norwegian and
Dutch ships since they passed under
British control, are estimated at 21
ships, with a tonnage of 9s,651.
German Losses Counted.
Since the outbreak of the war. ac-
cording to Lloyd's figures, GERMANY
has lost 126 ships of $4,000 tons.
or these, So ships were captured and
68 sunk. The German losses in
clude tonnage under Nazi control.
Last September Germany was cred
tied with 4,482, 900 tons of merchant
shipping.
Though Britain has ACQUIRED a
large additional tonnage from Nor
way, Belgium and Holland. these
gains have been Offset by the in
crease In ship construction facilities
available to the Nazis as a result of
the German conquest of Norway,
Denmark, Belgium, Holland and the
channel ports of France. In the
new territory over which the swas-
tlka dles today are located some of
the worlds finest and best equipped
shlpyards. According to the best
estimates available in Washington,
the Nazis now control shipbuilding
facilities that accounted for more
than 80 per cent Of the worlds out
put Of shipping in 1898.
From September I, 1899, to April
!, 1910, the United States Maritime
Commission approved the transfer
OF 146 American ships of 637 900 tons
to foreign registry. The transfers
approved included IS ships to
British registry, 10 to Belgium, 8 to
Canada, IA to France and to Italv