The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-12-02
SHIPPING LOSS
At HIGH FIGURE
THREE MILLION TONS LOST
DUE TO WAR; DAMAGE
ALSO HEAVY

Washington, Dec. up World
shipping losses have exceeded
100000 gross tons since theVEuro-
pean war began in September, 1899,
and at least 100000 tons additional
have been seriously damaged. ac-
cording to the statistics OF the T. S.
Maritime Commission.
II is certain that losses to date
are considerably higher than this,
as the commissions figures extend
only to the early part of October.
The intensified air. submarine and
surface-warship offensive if the
Axis powers against British ship
ping was not in full progress at that
time.
The toll Of empire shipping has
been large as a result of the ANS
campaign TO bring the blockade OF
Britain TO the peak of effectiveness.
Total Up to Oct. 5
The commission figures show
that from Sept 8, 1888, to oct 3,
1870. a total OF $40 British mer.
chantmen of l.356.223 gross tons
have been destroyed This does not
include vessels that have been seri-
ously damaged or listed as missing
CA United Press tabulation
covering the period. Sept. g.,
1899 Nov. 10. 1910. shows the
loss OF 492 British ships with
total tonnage Of 2.141341D
Germany's losses stand second to
Britain $ 'totaling So ships of $50 1913
gross tons Italy has lost 16 vessels
totaling S6f6 gross tons. or total
OF more than $4,000 tons for the
Axis partners.
Norway lost 9S vessels, OF 265.00Q
tons Sweden 65 ships Of nearly
$4,000 tons, and Finland 81 ships
OF $4,000 tons. This makes a total
for the Scandinavian countries of
$4,000 tons.
France losses were listed by the I
as % vessels OF 1916, 522 |
tons.
Frances losses We're listed by the /
as % vessels Of i6,522 /
gross tons.
Low Countries Hard Hit
The Low Countries together have /
lost a total OF 90 vessels of 2i3.O0O .
tons OF this total the Netherlands .
lost 40 vessels Of l50,496 tons.
Latin American countries suffered
few ship losses because Of the war
thus far. One Argentine vessel of .
3 1872 gross tons has been sunk since
hostilities commenced and eight
ships flying the Panamanian flag,
totaling 5S,342 tons. have been lost.
However. some if not all of the
latter losses We're vessels Of other
countries operating under Panaman-
ian registry.
A complete breakdown as to the
types of vessels sunk is. not avail .
able, but it is believed the tanker
losses have been particularly heavy
in proportion to the number Of these /
vessels available. Britain is feeling I
the effects of this acutely. The Unit |
ed Kingdoms oil needs ar vast to /.
supply the Royal Air Force, ships of
the fleet, oil-hurning merchantmen
and vital industries and virtually all /
petroleum used must be imported /
Britain Buys Ships
To offset merchant ship losses, |
Britain is buying virtually amy
thing that floats and repeatedly is /
turning out vessels without any of
the normal "refinements."
In addition. plans are in progress
to build mass production" ship /
facilities in the United /
states that will handle nearly 80 |
keels simultaneously
Some quarters have suggested |
that Britain might be able to great /
ly supplement merchant tonnage |
through the construction of con /
crete vessels. These are said to be /
economical and can be built rapid /
ly. No reports of actual construc- /
tion Of concrete ships have been
received