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A homeward-bound convoy from Gibraltar was attacked by U-Boat 160 miles W.S.W. of Cape St. Vincent early A.M. on the 9th February and two British ships were sunk. Later in the day this convoy was attacked by six Focke-Wulfe aircraft and two more British and one Norwegian were sunk, and one ship damaged.

A homeward-bound convoy from Sierra Leone was shelled by a surface raider, probably a Hipper Class cruiser, 640 miles West of Cape St. Vincent at 1135 on the 12th February. An ocean boarding vessel has picked up survivors from two British and a Greek ship, but full details are not yet available.

Protection of Seaborne Trade.

11. During the week ending Wednesday, 12th February, 853 ships, including 140 Allied and 22 Neutral, were convoyed of which six were lost. Since the commencement of hostilities the number of vessels convoyed has been 52,940, including 6,136 Allied and 4,371 Neutral of which 230, including 30 Allied and 19Neutral, have been lost. This gives ratios of losses to numbers convoyed of British 1 in 234, Allied 1 in 207, Neutral 1 in 230, total 1 in 230.

One battleship, two cruisers, six armed merchant cruisers, forty-six destroyers, forty-two sloops and corvettes and one submarine were employed on escort duties.

12. Imports into Great Britain by ships in convoy during this week totalled 465,409 tons compared with 419,826 tons last week. Oil imports were considerably smaller, only four tankers having brought in 43,139 tons compared with 112,598 tons last week, but there was an increase in cereals which totalled 60,490 tons as compared with 29,269 tons. Other food imports amounted to 119,883 tons compared with 39,547 tons in the previous week. Two ships were fully laden with molasses, three with fruit-chiefly citrus and sour oranges and one with West African produce. A considerable quantity of meat was brought in, and 20,475 tons of sugar. Mineral imports amounted to 164,208 tons, the corresponding figure for last week being 148,949 tons. Eight ships had full cargoes of iron ore, two carried sulphur, one was fully laden with pyrites and one with steel. Cotton and wool imports totalled 23,635 tons, but timber amounted to only 4,000 tons. General cargoes and sundries totalled 50,054 tons, and there were satisfactory quantities of aeroplanes, engines, spare parts, trucks, field kitchens, heavy lifts and ammunition.

British Minelaying.

13. On the 6th February, H.M. Minelayers Southern Prince and Port Quebec laid 1,110 mines between the Faroe Islands and Iceland, and on the 11th February H.M. Minelayer Plover laid 120 deep mines in the St. George's Channel. Minelaying by aircraft has been carried out on the North-West coast of Germany. Motor torpedo boats laid mines off the Belgian Coast on the night of the 6th/7th February.

Enemy Minelaying, British Minesweeping.

Home Waters.

14. Minelaying enemy aircraft have been more active during the last week than during the previous weeks. On the East Coast the Humber has been visited. several times, and mines have been seen to drop off the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts; parachutes were also reported dropping off Aberdeen. On the West Coast raiding aircraft have ranged from the Bristol Channel area, including Milford Haven, to as far north as Campbeltown in Kintyre, taking in the Menai Straits, Holyhead, and Liverpool Bay. On two nights, the 7th/8th and 11th/12th February, there was apparently no minelaying.

Minesweepers in the Humber on the 11th February detonated 27 mines, of which 18 were acoustic and 9 magnetic.

A high-speed motor launch was slightly damaged when she put up an acoustic mine in the entrance to the Wash on the 8th February. This is the first mine reported in the Wash area.

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