HL Deb 01 April 1943 vol 126 cc1097-8
LORD STRABOLGI

My Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will state the estimated losses of enemy merchant tonnage since the beginning of the present war, differentiating between German, Italian and Japanese mere rant ships.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY (LORD BRUNTISFIELD)

My Lords, the estimated tonnage of German merchant shipping sunk, captured or damaged, since the beginning of the present war to the end of February, 1943, is 3,365,000 tons gross and of Italian shipping 4,027,000 tons gross. To this should be added 626,000 tons gross of shipping belonging to Axis satellites. As regards Japanese losses, I would invite the noble Lord's attention to the statement of Mr. Knox in Washington on March 17 in which he estimated that 1,857,000 gross tons of Japanese shipping had been destroyed. These figures do not include losses or damage inflicted by our Russian Allies, details of which are not at present available.

LORD STRABOLGI

I am much obliged to the noble Lord. Do I understand that except for the losses inflicted by our Russian Allies the figures given include all losses inflicted on the enemy by all our Allies in the United Nations?

LORD BRUNTISFIELD

Yes.

LORD STRABOLGI

Then may I further ask whether it would be possible to get the figures of the losses inflicted on the enemy by our Russian Allies?

LORD BRUNTISFIELD

I did make endeavours, but I could not get them in time. I will look into the matter further.

LORD STRABOLGI

If my noble friend would let me know when the figures are available, I should be much obliged, because I should like them to be announced and added to these very large and substantial figures, which I think the country will be gratified to hear.

House adjourned.