British Losses for April Believed to Be Near 500,000 Ton Mark; Highest Total for War Addis Ababa, May 9.
The Emperor of Abyssinia ha offered the British Government the use.of his forces for any front required. This was revealed by Haile Selassie himself in the first interview he has given since his return to his capital for five years of exile Outlining his home programme he said he was determined to re-establish London. May 9.
Figures of the sinkings of British ships given by Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, who said two days ago that only eight out of 205 ships carrying supplies from the United States to Britain had been sunk in the first three months of this year. are stated in high official circles in London not to be correct.
Even if they were, however, it is stated, they would give a totally false picture of the seriousness of the situation.
Vessels carrying fully finished munttions of war naturally are provided with the greatest possible protection available, and the percentage of such vessels sunk is therefore les; than of vessels carrying less precious but almost equally vital supplies, such as stea] and food.
This proves that an adequate convoy escort keeps losses to a minimum. But it is pointed out that the tonnage position must be regarded as a whole, While aeroplanes and tanks are obviously of greater immediate importance than anything else, no uSe can be made of either if food supplies fail. If the total tonnage is reduced, ships now directed to carrying munitions will inevitably be diverted to carrying food.
Figures shortly to be issued by the Admiralty, it is added, will show that, while the position regarding the battle of the Atlantic has in the past months shown improvement, nevertheless. owing to losses in the Mediterranean. the tota] tonnage at the command of the allies has suffered as severely as in almost any preceding months of the war—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.