Evening star., 1942-03-01

on the overwhelming task facing this
Nation-of carrying the war to the enemy
over four great ocean highways. each Of
which must be protected by air and
naval strength from bases strategically
spotted.
Only by maintaining the power to do
this, he warned, can China be aided in
her magnificent war of attrition against
Japan, or can Australia and New Zea-
land be saved from conquest, or can
sufficient supplies be dispatched to Brit
ish and Russian Allies for defense against
NaH invasion of Africa or the Middle
East.
And against this background, too, may
be appreciated the gravity with which
Washington and London view possible
surrender of the French feet to out
right use Of the Axis.
Early last week it was revealed that
the French battleship Dunkerque, badly
damaged some 20 months ago
French when British uni ombarded
Now the North Africa port Of
Oran, had returned to Toulon
for final repairs preparatory to return to
full service. The news intensified fears
that an outright French German naval
alliance is imminent.
On Friday, Acting Secretary Of State
Welles disclosed that President Roosevelt
had attempted by personal warning to
Marshal Petain on February 10 to block
transfer Of French naval units to the
declared enemies Of the United States.
Subsequent protestations Of Vichy's
will to continue neutral were declared
"of value In estimating the relations" be-
tween Washington and Vichy, Mr.. Welles
announced, but require further clarifi-
cation before being considered fully sat-
isfactory.
So much for the overall implications
OF the maritime phases Of todays war.
More specific maritime news stories Of
the week may be summarized as follows:
Merchant shipping losses, by London
estimate, approximated 100000 tons
between September 1, 1899. and January
!, 1912. OF this total, Axis losses were
estimated between five and six million
tons, with s,3Oo,OOO destroyed tons hav-
ing been under the flags of Britain, her
Allies, or neutral nations.
Great as these figures are, it is in
teresting to note that President Roosevelt
has set q goal Of 100000 tons Of new
merchant shipping for American yards
this year.
While London recapitulated these
losses, the Navy Department reported
that raiders had attacked
U-Boots ia merchant ships Of United
Attack Nations registry in West At
lantic waters between jan
uary 1 and February IS. Several have
been added to this total since. Navy and
Coast Guard patrols attacked 56 sub
marines in that same period, it was re-
ported, with three certain sinkings, four
badly damaged and others probably hit
The week also brought news of the
torpedoing of Coast Guard cutter Alex
ander Hamilton of Iceland, and the
wrecking of Newfoundland of destroyer
Truxton and auxiliary Pollux.
In the Pacific, Batavia claimed that
Tokio's navy has lost "A ships by Amer
ican action and Al by Dutch, with 20
others probably sunk and 72 more dam
aged. One battleship was listed as sunk.
another as probably sunk and two as
damaged; eight cruisers were catalogued
as sunk.
In answer, Toxic announced triflng
losses, indicating four destroyers to be
most serious cost of war thus far. Toxic
also claimed severe damage OF an EN-
emy aircraft carrier" last week end.
AS the week drew near end, Dutch
American naval and air units were
launching furious assaults
Jovo at newly formed Jap in
Bottle vasion armada between Su-
rnatra and Java. Similar
mass defense tactics smashed Nip con-
voy on Bali earlier in week, leaving land
Ing force cut OIL from reinforcement. A
victory Tor the United Nations was