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4.

The cargoes which arrived in convoy during the week included 260,000 tons of fuel oil, over 100,000 tons of ore and minerals, 140,000 tons of cereals and 110,000 tons of food-stuffs.

Norwegian convoys included 32 ships of a total tonnage of 52,000 carrying paper pulp.

German Attack on Seaborne Trade.

10. The total tonnage, British, Allied and neutral lost through enemy action during the week was 54,151, of which 8,278 was British. U-boat activity has again increased and three British ships and thirteen neutral have been attacked, of which all except two (the British Pyrrhus, damaged but still afloat, and the British Daghestan, missed by the torpedo) were sunk. One only of these ships was in convoy. One British and two neutral ships have succumbed to attack by mine or unknown causes. Details of attacks are given in Appendix I.

The British Imperial Transport (8,022 tons) reported in last week's résumé as torpedoed on the night of the 11th-12th February is still afloat, minus her bow, and is now nearing the Clyde in tow of a tug.

German Minelaying.

11. Investigation of the area off Cromer Knoll has revealed the existence of a moored minefield. So far twenty-one mines have been swept up, and there have been two casualties. It appears that these mines are fitted with delayed release; consequently each individual convoy must be swept through the area.

A further field of magnetic mines has been discovered off Dundee, but it does not lie in the path of shipping.

British Mine Sweeping.

12. Apart from the usual routine minesweeping, the main operation during the past week has been keeping the Channel in the neighbourhood of Cromer Knoll clear. On the 14th February a southbound convoy had to be diverted into the Humber until the position became clear. Convoys were subsequently swept through the area, but on the 17th February the weather became too bad for sweeping and traffic had to be held up. Later traffic was resumed, but the field is not yet cleared.

On the 21st February a mine was cut in the War Channel off Newbiggin, Northumberland. Numerous mines were swept up in this area between the 11th January and the 15th January; if the position of sweeping up this mine is accurate, therefore, it means that there is either a delayed release of six weeks, or that a new minefield has been laid. Traffic has been stopped.

H.M.S. Borde exploded a magnetic mine near the Sunk Light Vessel on 15th. She was herself damaged. and is now docked. Further mines were exploded in the area by towed skids.

The Southend Anchorage, which was subjected to aircraft mining attacks in November, is now considered clear.

German Merchant Shipping.

13. The Baldur (5,805 tons), with a cargo of iron ore, was intercepted by H.M.S. Ivanhoe outside Norwegian territorial waters near Joessing Fjord on the 16th February. She scuttled herself to avoid capture, and her crew of 36 are prisoners.

The Wahehe (4,709 tons), which sailed from Vigo on the 6th February, was taken in prize on the 21st February by H.M.S. Manchester. She attempted to scuttle herself, but, after a few rounds of pom-pom fire, hauled down her colours and is now being escorted to Kirkwall.

Two prizes, the Morea (1,927 tons) and the Herrlichkeit (268 tons), have arrived at British ports.

It is reported that the Wiegand (5,869 tons) arrived at Joessing Fjord the morning of the 21st February to tow off the Altmark.

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