§ Mr. De Chairasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of merchant ships sunk in May, 1917, and in the year 1917, respectively?
§ Dr. BurginI presume my hon. Friend is referring to British merchant ships sunk by enemy action. According to Parliamentary Return 199 dated the 1st August, 1919, the number of British merchant ships sunk by enemy action in 1917 was 1,197, of which 122 were sunk in the month of May. In addition to the losses dealt with in the Parliamentary Return there were 33 merchant ships lost in 1917, including two in the month of May, which were subsequently regarded as having been lost through enemy action.