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(3,950 tons) arrived at Trieste on the 3rd June, probably from Yugoslavia. The Maritza (2,910 tons), reported to have sailed from Trieste on the 7th June, was probably going to Yugoslavia for bauxite.

It is reported that the Germans are refusing to hand over the Augsberg (6,512 tons) to the Dutch, acting under the orders of the German Consul. The ship, which is at Dairen, was transferred from the German to the Dutch flag after the outbreak of war and the transfer was recognised by His Majesty's Government. The Scharnhorst (18,184 tons) is said to be leaving Kobe for Yokohama in the middle of June.

At Antofagasta, in Chile, the Rhakotis (6,753 tons) is endeavouring to obtain 700 tons of Diesel oil. At present there are no supplies, but by the 15th June

the oil may be available.

The Arauca (4,400 tons), which is at Port Everglades, in Florida, is reported to have received 500 tons of fuel oil.

The Dutch are overhauling the Este (7,915 tons), Henry Horn (3,164 tons) and the Vancouver (8,269 tons), at Curaçao, and making them ready for sea.

Italian.

23. When Italy declared war on the 10th June, there were 16 Italian merchant ships in British Home Waters totalling 81,083 tons. Four of these were at Liverpool, three in the Tyne, one at Hartlepool, one at Cardiff and one at Immingham being repaired after being bombed by German aircraft in March. All these were seized. Five sailed from the Tyne on the 9th June or early on the 10th June, but they were all captured and sent to Methil. One sailed from Sunderland on the 9th June and when intercepted the next day off Peterhead she scuttled herself, but was beached.

By midday, the 15th June, 21 merchantmen were known either to have scuttled themselves or else to have been seized in British Colonial or Dominion ports. These total 119,962 tons. Four ships at Gibraltar attempted to scuttle themselves, but it was done in such shallow water that they can be salvaged; one of these was a tanker. Another tanker at Gibraltar scuttled herself successfully. Only one ship is known so far to have been seized there. Three ships have been captured in the Mediterranean. At Port Said one ship was seized and was found to have 800 tons of ammunition on board. Two unsuccessful scuttlings are reported from Aden, but one ship scuttled herself successfully at Port Sudan. Calcutta, Fremantle and Capetown each report the seizure of a ship. One ship tried to escape from Montreal, but was intercepted, set herself on fire and was beached. A tanker was denied permission to cross the outer bar at Maracaibo, Venezuela, and later, when a French Naval Auxiliary attempted to board her, she tried to scuttle herself and was beached. Another unsuccessful scuttling is reported from near Durban, but one total loss occurred in the Pacific. At Malta two ships, the Calitea (4,013 tons) and the Rodi (3,220 tons), which were evacuating Italians, were seized on the afternoon of the 11th June. Subsequently the Calitea was released, having on board 550 passengers, consisting principally of old men, women and children. The internment of enemy aliens in Malta is not easy.

During the first two and a half days of War Italy is thus known to have lost 131,045 tons of merchant shipping, and this figure does not include seizures made at other Allied ports.

24. There are 30 merchant ships of a total of 160,575 tons now on the high seas whose approximate positions are known of these, 16 ships of 89,166 tons (including 10 tankers) are presumed to be bound for the Straits of Gibraltar.

Three of Italy's big liners, the Rex (51,062 tons), the Roma (30,816 tons), and the Augustus (30,418 tons) are in Italian ports. The Conte di Savoia (48,502 tons) sailed from Genoa on the 4th June for an unspecified destination, which is probably Pola. The Saturnia (24,470 tons) called at Naples on the 8th June. The Conte Grande (23,861 tons) arrived at Santos on the 9th June. The Conte Biancamano arrived at Balboa on the 6th June.

It was estimated on the 10th May that the positions were known of nine Italian potential Armed Merchant Cruisers. Two of these have since been seized by the British, four are in Italian ports in the Red Sea, two off the Somaliland coast, and one in Lourenço Marques in Mozambique.

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