Evening star., 1944-02-29
Half Of japanese
Merchant Ships
Sunk, Knox Says
Secretary Announces
Sinking Of ID More
Vessels by Subs

Nearly half of the merchant
tonnage which Japan had at the
beginning of the war has been
sunk by American forces, Secre-
tary of the Navy Knox declared
at a press conference today.
The Secretary made the disclo-
sure after announcing that Amer
lean submarines in the Pacific had
sunk IA more japanese vessels, in
cluding one large tanker, one me-
dium cargo transport vessel, one
small cargo vessel and IL medium
cargo vessels. None of these sink
ings had been previously reported.
Mr.. Knox said submarine activi-
ties have been growing more sue
cessful regularly and that Japanese
ship losses from other causes also
have been mounting.
100000 Tons Sunk.
I'D like to say" said Mr.. Knox in
commenting on the inroads into
japanese sea losses, that American
submarines are doing an increas-
ingly Skillful job. They are grow
ing more successful. The rate of
Japanese losses is going up Well
over 100000 tons of japanese mer-
chant shipping have been sunk from
all causes so far in this war"
The Secretary said information
available showed that the japanese
had 100000 tons of shipping at the
beginning of the war, which in
cluded its own tonnage, about g.
100000, and tonnage acquired from
other nations.
THE growing shortage of cargo
and transport ships in the hands
of the japanese" Mr.. Knox said, "is
very apparent in the way they are
now conducting their operations.
We have been very fortunate in
getting a considerable number of
Japanese tankers.
The total number of American
submarines lost during the whole
period has been amazingly small"
Techniques Improved.
The Secretary was reminded that
Admiral Ernest j. King, Chief of
Naval Operations, had recently
commented that the Japanese anti
submarine technique had been i'm
proved.
Mr.. Knox agreed with this and
added, You can also say that our
invasion technique has improved"
The IA sinkings announced today
brought to GIL the number of jap
anese vessels which have been
sunk, probably sunk and damaged
by American submarines since De-
cember 7, 1941. Broken down, these
figures show 461 vessels sunk, 36
probably sunk and ia damaged.
February Toll Given.
The Secretary also reported that
for the month OF February, not in
cluding today, japanese shipping
losses caused by all types of Ameri-
can action totaled 189 vessels sunk,
probably sunk and damaged. In
that total, he said, were % COM
batant and 1877 noncombatant YES
sells.
The statement accredited to an
Army intelligence officer at Seattle
that loose talk" had given the
japanese advance information of
the prospective landing on Kiska
and enabled them to escape brought
forth the comments that the de-
parture of the Japs without a fight
undoubtedly saved many American
lives.
The Secretary also called atten-
tion to statement some time ago
of Vice Admiral Thomas c. Kin
kaid, at the time commander of
the North Pacific force, when told
that the Japs were running away.
Admiral Kinkaid said that if they
needed additional transportation to
get away he would be glad to sup
ply it.
Asked about Axis radio reports
that an American attack is contin-
uing on Guam, American outposts in
the Pacific which was captured by
the japanese early in the war, Mr..
Knox described them as lust
mlsstatement for propaganda pur-
poses," adding that he believed the
broadcasts we're intended mainly
sfor Iocal copcI1nptior !"