Evening star., 1940-06-11
England and France
Are Still Unmatched
In Sea Force
II Duce Brings Hitler
Between 5000 ond
5000 New Planes
b. the Associated Press.

SSVSS l>SW I0uSS
b. the Associated Press.
Italy's war declaration boosted
considerably Adolf Hitler's air su-
perlority over the Allies. but the
axis powers still cannot match Brit
ain and France on the seas, on the
basis of pre-war naval figures and
present-day claims.
Due to disputed losses among
Germany, Britain and France and
vast new construction among all four
Of the belligerents, comparisons of
the opposing sea forces can only
be general
The latest estimates on Italian
naval, strength give her tonnage
Of about 100000, including two
new 35000-ton, l5-inch gun battle
ships, described by the Italians as
the most potent things afloat.
Germany started with about half
1taly's tonnage, but the British say
she has lost most of it. Her chief
naval attacking strength lies for the
most part in her submarines.
Stacked up against these axis fig
ures, the Allies began the war with
the overwhelming total of 1885, ,433
tons of fighting ships. Their losses
have been heavy, but they say their
requirements have bolstered their
strength to figure even higher
than their pre-war total.
Six Capital Ships.
In all, Italy has six capital ships,
no aircraft carriers. seven modern
heavy cruisers, II modern light
cruisers, LOG ocean-going and coastal
submarines and IS high-speed motor
torpedo boats. New construction in
cludes two more 35.000-ton battle
ships, IA light cruisers and % sub
marines.
Germany started the war with
hattleships, 3 pocket battleships,
cruisers, % destroyers and IS sub
marines. One pocket battleship, the
Admiral Graf Spec. was scuttled in
Montevideo Harbor, British esti-
mates of Nazi submarine losses have
run as high as so, and the British
have claimed German cruiser and
destroyer strength reduced by more
than one-half.
New German construction, some
Of which may now be in service, in
cludes 4 battleships, 2 aircraft car
rlers, heavy cruisers. 4 cruisers, an
unstated number of destroyers and
submarines.
Great Britain entered the con-
fict with Is capital ships. II heavy
cruisers, AZ light cruisers, 7 aircraft
carriers, l79 destroyers. 81 subma-
rines and miscellaneous craft total
ing more than 100000 tons.
Admitted British Losses.
Admitted British losses include a
battleship, 2 cruisers, 2 aircraft
carriers, Is destroyers. 7 submarines,
rs we'll as miscellaneous craft. The
British also have admitted some
hattleships, cruisers and destroyers
damaged, the Germans say many
more have been sunk or damaged
than London admits.
Despite these losses. the Admiralty
declared on June that Britain was
building warships faster tran she
uas losing them and that at that
time "the balance Of naval strength
IN favor of the Allies is nov far
greater than at the outbreak of
war"
At the wars start France had 7
capital ships, aircraft carrier. 7
heavy cruisers, II other cruisers,
SO destroyers, 78 submarines and
miscellaneous craft.
The French have acknowledged
the loss Of one mine-laying cruiser,
six destroyers, one supply ship. one
patrol boat. one destroyer damaged
seriously. New French construction.
some Of it presumably completed,
includes four battleships, two air.
craft carriers. three heavy cruisers
and at least Is destroyers.
Air Force Is Different Story.
Germany was believed to have
started the war with some 10000
planes, half or more of them first
line craft and she is reported to be
more than replacing her losses.
Lord Beaverbrook. British Minis
ter of Airplane Production. in a
statement June himself figured
that the Germans then had l1.675
effective planes with sos big troop
transports
Added to this tremendous air
power now is Italy's total of some
5000 to 5000 planes. more than half
of which are first line craft.
On the other side of the picture.
the Allies probably had not more
than s,000-less than half Ger
many's total-when the Nazis
launched their invasion of the Low
Countries. The toll in planes on
both sides has been high since then.
the British claiming they were
downing four German craft to
every one lost.
The Allies, working desperately to
overhaul Germany's air advantage,
just now are swinging into mass
production, They also are getting
faster deliveries of American-made
planes, including Army and Navy
craft traded in" by the United
States to manufacturers in ex-
change for newer models.