HC Deb 20 March 1917 vol 92 cc618-9W
Mr. O'SHEE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give the figures of the number of ships sunk and their aggregate tonnage for the first eighteen days of the present month to compare with the figures for the corresponding periods in previous months as stated by him on the 21st ultimo?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The figures for British shipping losses from submarines and mines during the first eighteen days of December, 1916, and January, February, March, 1917, respectively, are:

December 30
January 26
February 66
March 55

Those figures include all British vessels except fishing craft. They exclude losses by the action of the German commerce raider, the "Moewe," which have been published separately from the return of losses from submarines and mines. As regards the tonnage, my right hon. Friend has already stated why it cannot be given.