Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-06
British Ship
Losses Drop;
Over
Hopkins Going TO London
for First Hand Data
BY PAUL MALL0N

~
w British guard their shipping
losses as ardently as they guard
their coastline. but the truth Is
they passed the crisis about SIX
weeks ago.
Some exceptionally trust
worthy data available conflden-
italy here shows that since the
occasion in which a whole UNI
escorted convoy was trapped by
German submarines, British
commercial ship fatalities have
been cut from $1,000 tons a day
down TO around 5000 or 1000
tons a day.
This is not bad when you con-
slider that their losses for the
war have averaged around 49,
900 tons a day.
IT DOES not mean perma-
L nent solution has been found,
only that added precautions
have been effective. so far. The
wintry weather may also have
helped.
But there is no evidence here
TO bolster the superficial conten-
tions being freely banded about.
suggesting that British officials
are really worried about their
shipping problem. In fact d
leading British shipping journal.
Fair Play, issued November Is
at a time when the losses were
in largest type on every front
page, is currently informing
officials here that conditions
were nowhere near aS-bad- then
as represented.
The editor Gordon 1 Rob
inson, wrote:
Judging from what our min
listers say, IL would seem that,
while the losses have been more
than is pleasant. there Is moth
ing to worry about. As i'm the
past all our difficulties will be
surmounted and we shall be able
TO sleep comfortably in our
beds Mt night sooner than some
OF MS think.
I'VE have plenty to eat and
drink and, except that bombing
trains, we-eO on our way In
much the same manner AS be-
fore"
1T MAY be that Mr. Roosevelt
is sending his closest friend.
Harry Hopkins. to London to
clear up the differences between
what the British really want IN
the shipping line and what the
American overenthusiasts are
saying they should have.
This shipping question is
likely to be the biggest imme-
date question in the assembling
new Congress. The incoming
legislators are registering
heavy majority in private con-
versation for any reasonable aid
to Britain.
Even such hard and fast ma
tionaliStS as Rep. Ham Fish are
undergoing an advance of pro-
British sympathy. You can bet
they will endorse anything Mr..
Roosevelt proposes unless it
involves a belligerent act.
That means a proposal TO
have American battlCShipS act
in conveys would run into stiff
opposition. SO would the COM
panion plan 10 confiScate in
termed foreign shipping and
turn 1t over TO Britain.
4 SliREWD new working for
"A mula which Mr.. Roosevelt
has adopted since election seems
10 guarantee that he may ex-
pect a minimum of trouble from
his opposition in Congress and
the country.
The President is carefully
feeling the firmneSS of the
ground now in advance of each
step he takes. There are not
likely to be any sudden sur
~ ISIS DiONcH upon eltnef 0On-
gresS or the country.
The Presidents new technique
seems to be primarily TO follow
public opinion
Upon occasions in this British
aid matter. he may have en-
couraged some outside propa-
ganda organizations to prepare
popular demand for the things
he wants to do But baSically
his working formula indicates
a desire 10. avoid internal con-
hict.
While he is not leading a pub
lie clamor for unity, he seems 10
he contributing the utmost to.
ward maintaining il.
Distributed BY king Features SYNDICATE