World War: AT SEA: 47% Better

Although warning against undue optimism, Lord Privy Seal Clement Richard Attlee could not keep cheerfulness out of his voice last week when he reported to the House of Commons on the war at sea. "July was a good month," he said. Axis merchantmen to the tonnage of 459,000 (92 ships) were sunk, damaged or put out of action. Of these 291,000 tons were hit in the North Sea or the Atlantic; 168,000 tons in the Mediterranean.

For strategic reasons the Admiralty no longer gives out monthly British sinking losses, but First Lord Albert Victor Alexander declared them lower than in...