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(9,699 tons) were mined, the majority being sunk in the Thames Estuary.

Two ships (14,274 tons) were sunk by raider, one in the Indian Ocean in October and one off Freetown in December. One ship (6,941 tons) previously reported damaged by air attack is now a total loss.

In addition, eight ships and 3 small craft are reported damaged; with two exceptions these casualties occurred during an air attack on the ports in which the ships were lying. Convoys were unsuccessfully attacked by enemy aircraft in the Thames Estuary and in the North-Western Approaches on the 5th January Details of shipping lösses are given in Appendix I.

Protection of Seaborne Trade.

11. During the week ended noon Wednesday, the 8th January, 663 ships, including 128 allied and 22 neutral, were convoyed, of these 2 were lost by enemy action.

One battleship, one A/A cruiser, 9 armed merchant cruisers, 20 destroyers and 37 sloops and corvettes were employed on escort duty.

Imports into Great Britain by ships in convoy during the week ending the 4th January totalled 636,082 tons, compared with 627,360 tons during the week before, and an average of 750,197 during the previous ten weeks.

Oil imports, in twelve tankers, were 115,862 tons compared with 138,985 tons during the week ending the 28th December. Mineral imports were 143,658 tons, of which 100,550 tons were steel, scrap iron, pig iron and iron ore. The corresponding figures for the previous week were 166,551 tons and 112,844 tons. Timber imports were 60,619 tons and cereals imports were 149,207 tons, eleven ships being fully laden with grain. Other food imports were 114,677 tons, of which 57,698 tons were sugar and molasses, 8,747 tons were meat and 5,591 tons were tea. Imports of eggs totalling 7,995 tons included a full cargo of 6,747 tons of refrigerated eggs from North China. There were large quantities of aeroplanes, machine tools and munitions from Canada and the United States.

British Minelaying.

12. During the week H.M.S. Adventure laid 1,000 mines in the St. George's Channel area; the 1st Minelaying Squadron laid over 2,000 in the vicinity of the Faroes; H.M. Destroyers Icarus and Intrepid laid 108 off the Norwegian coast; and H.M.S. Teviot Bank laid 270 in the East Coast Barrier.

In addition M.T.B.'s have laid mines off the French Coast, and minelaying by aircraft has been continued on a somewhat increased scale in the Western Baltic, off the North-Western coast of Germany, and the Channel and Atlantic. coasts of France.

Enemy Minelaying, British Minesweeping.

13. Fog and wintry conditions have again reduced the activities of enemy minelaying aircraft.

There have been six casualties this week, including a destroyer which reached harbour. Four of the ships sank.

During sweeping operations mines have been detonated off the Humber, Penzance Bay, Bristol Channel, Liverpool and Loch Ewe; the last named is thought to have been one of the original lay of November 1939.

The totals of mines now accounted for are:-

844 magnetic, 775 contact and 119 acoustic.

On the 4th January a mine was exploded by sweeping craft 40 miles south- east of Hobart, Tasmania. A dangerous area was at once declared and a channel has now been established.

Enemy Merchant Shipping.

German.

14. During the week four German merchant ships have been seriously damaged or sunk at sea by our aircraft, three off the coast of Norway, and one, a tanker, off the Hook of Holland.

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