Washington, Jan. 4.
ARID shipping losses have exceeded 3,000,000 gross tons since the European war began in September, 1939, and at least 300,000 additional tons have been seriously damaged, according to statistics released yesterday by the United States Maritime Commission.
Losses to-date are considerably higher than this, as the Commission's figures exter only to the early part of October. The intensified air, submarine and surface-warship offensive of the Axis powers against British shipping was not in full progress at that time.
The Commission's Mgures show that from September 3, 10939, to October 5, 1940, a total of 349 British merchantmen of 1,356,223 gross tons have been destroyed. This does not include vessels that have been seriously damaged or listed as missing.
Germany's losses stand second to Britain's, totalling 69 ships of 382,403 ross tons. Her partner, Italy, has lost 16 vessels totalling 69,040" gross fons, or a total of over 471,000 tons for the Axis partners
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.