Evening star., 1940-06-09

and auxiliary craft "of which So
have been lost"
The Frenh Navy is very power
full and rapidly growing force" the
statement said.
The Allied fleets have been REIN
forced by active cooperation of
Polish, Norwegian and Dutch naval
forces.
During the next few months the
Royal Navy will receive further
large increase in strength compris-
ing every category of warship from
battleships to motor torpedoboats
and very large number of auxil-
iary craft"
Losses Are Listed.
The following losses were listed:
One of IS capital ships, of 7
aircraft carriers, 2 of 81 cruisers, 20
of 1875 destroyers, of So subma-
rines, of 108 minesweepers, sloops,
patrol vessels and gunboats.
Nearly 100000 tons of warships
are being built in British shipyards,
the statement said, and contrast
ing growing Allied naval strength
with German naval weakness, re-
marked that the German high COM
mand has been alarmed.
This anxiety is shown by Ger
man efforts to convince neutral
opinion by constant issue of ground
less claims of naval sinkings that
German air power has achieved
spectacular ascendancy over Brit
ish naval power" it said.
The statement added that Ger
man air successes over naval units
are more successful when carried
out nearer German bases, and then
observed that German air power
had "signally failed to annul the
decisive advantages conferred by
sea power.
"A recent and striking example
was the successful withdrawal of
the Allied armies from the Belgian
coast" the statement said.
Home Defense Strengthened.
The appointment of Gen. Sir Rob-
ert Gordon -Finlayson as command
ing chief of the British Isles vest
ern command. replacing Gen. Sir
Henry c. Jackson, was announced
today.
The War Office said his and other
appointments announced ARE con-
sequent upon the increasing i'm
portance of home defense which
has introduced operational as we'll
as an administrative aspect into the
duties of general officers command
ing in chief of the home commands"
1t. Gen. Sir Ronald F. Adam was
named general officer commanding
in chief of the northern command,
succeeding Gen. Sir William H.
Bartholomew, and Maj Gen. H. C. B.
Wemyss was named adjutant gen.
eral of the forces with the acting
rank of lieutenant general, succeed
ing Gordon -Finlayson.
Fight Ministerial Custer.
Meanwhile, with public attention
centered on next Tuesdays secret
session of Commons, w. P. Spens,
chairman of the powerful Conserva-
tive 1922 Committee" most inf1u-
entail group in the House, served
notice he would consider any at
tempt to oust certain members of
Prime Minister Churchill's cabinet
as utterly indefensible."
Mr.. Spens said he was mortified"
at the possibility that advantage
would be taken of the secret session
to launch an attack on certain
ministers with view to compelling
their resignation"
Such an attempt, he said, would
inevitably mean an end of politi-
cal truce and at time when the
enemy is at our gates and we are
fighting for our very lives, such con-
duct appears to me utterly inde-
fensible."
Former Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain has been named as
among those who might be criti-
cized at the session. Mr.. Chamber
lain remained Conservative party
leader at Mr.. Churchiu's request
May II. As such he held a 28l-
200 majority at the lowest mark of
his career as Prime Minister, and
the statement by Mr.. Spens today
indicated his position has not weak
ened.
Frowns on Mere Inquest
The Times lent its authoritative
voice to the plea for constructive
suggestion" and frowned upon the
idea of a mere inquest"
THE search for scapegoats might
indeed reveal a whole herd of them,
some in unexpected places" the
Times said, 'but it would not pro-
duce single tank or = single air
plane"
The Times added that some Of
4