Evening star., 1941-03-23
Sir Arthur Salter's Assignment
Shows Gravity of Ship Shortage
World War Shipping Expert Described as the Man
To Bring Coordination of Efforts
to Speed Cargoes to England
Rv eir Marley
By Felix NJ oriey.

Everybody now realizes that shortage
of shipping is the factor that most
gravely menaces the British war effort.
The vital importance of the problem is
emphasized by that governments deci-
sion to send Sir Arthur Salter to Wash
ington, where he will concentrate on CO.
ordination of Anglo-American shipping
facilities
The lease-lend bill became law with
the Presidents signature March II.
Three days later Winston Churchill an
nounced the mission of Sir Arthur, to-
gether with statement that in no
sphere of our war efforts is the help
which the United States Government
can give us under the lease-lend legisla-
ton more urgent than that of shipping"
In the speech broadcast the night of
March 15 Mr. Roosevelt referred to
the need of the British people for ships
and solemnly pledged his word that
from America they will get ships"
1t will be the vital responsibility of Sir
Arthur, working with our Maritime
Commission, to convert the American
promise into a practical solution of Brit
aims greatest necessity. The problem is
staggering in its magnitude and COM
plexity. But no man is better qualified
than Sir Arthur to undertake it's solu-
ton.
During the first World War, as chair
man of the Allied Maritime Transport
Executive, he was primarily responsible
for the careful ALLEGATION of shipping
without which the service OF supply to
the Allied armies in France could not
have functioned With the organization
of the League of Nations, he became
director of its economic and financial
section and quietly accomplished much
of the notable success achieved at Ge-
neva in this sphere. A few years before
the war Sir Arthur retired to write and
lecture at oxford University, whence
he emerged in the present crisis to be-
come the principal adviser of the British
Ministry of Shipping
No Attempt to Hide Its Seriousness.
There is no longer any attempt in
Great Britain to hide the seriousness OF
the shipping shortage. Statistics just
published by Lloyd's Registry show that
in the first 18 months of this war, or
up to March 2, enemy action had de-
stroyed 1,245 ships, of 1852 ,257 tons, ply
ing to British ports. To this total, Brit
ish merchant shipping contributed 757
units of 3,171,273 tons, or well over one
seventh of all British Empire tonnage
registered at the outbreak OF the war.
These figures do not take account Of
wartime replacements on the one hand,
nor OF ships suffering serious damage but
not actually sunk on the other. The lat
large, particularly as result of airplane
bombings which cause disablement more
OTTER than complete destruction.
During the period necessary for re-
pairs a damaged vessel is OF course as
much immobilized as one that has
been sunk and refitting further requires
men and facilities which would other
wise be available for new shipbuflding.
Another factor that does not appear in
the statistics is the disorganization and
destruction of docks and shipyards at the
British ports where the Luftwaffe Is
now concentrating its efforts.
The German claim that nearly half
of the British shipping available at the
beginning of the war has been sunk is
doubtless exaggerated. But considering
all factors-the damaged vessels, the
dislocation at the docks. the time lost in
assembling conveys and holding their
speed to that of the slowest member
the net result is perhaps not far short
Of so per cent loss of shipping eff
cheney. In any case it is admitted in
London that in the irst Is months of
war the actual destruction of ships sail
ing to and from England was 100000
tons greater than the total sinkings
during the first 80 months of the last
war.
Drain Called Terrible.
The consequent drain on British
strength is terrible, and will not become
less so as the threatened battle of the
Atlantic" gets under way with spring.
Sir Arthur Salter, therefore, faces
tremendous problem as he arrives to
assist in organizing the shipbuilding ia
cilities OF the United States in Britains
behalf Indeed, he confronts not one
: