APPENDIX VIII

MONTHLY LOSSES SINCE FEBRUARY, 1917, FROM ENEMY ACTION

During the twenty-one months of unrestricted submarine warfare from February, 1917, to October, 1918, inclusive, 3,843 merchant vessels (British fishing vessels included) of a total gross tonnage of 8,478,947 have been sunk by enemy action, a monthly average of 183 vessels totalling 403,760 gross tons. The October tonnage losses show a decrease from this average of 291,333 gross tons, or 72 per cent.

The following gives the tonnage losses by months from February, 1917, to October, 1918, inclusive:

Period.British Merchant Vessels.Other Allied Merchant Vessels.Neutral Merchant Vessels.British Fishing Vessels.Total
1917
February313,486 84,820135,0903,478536,334
March353,478 81,151165,2253,586603,440
April545,282134,448189,3735,920875,023
May352,289102,960137,9571,448594,654
June417,925126,171139,2291,342684,667
July364,858111,683 70,3702,736549,647
August329,810128,489 53,018 242511,559
September196,212119,086 29,941 245345,484
November173,560 87,646 31,476 87292,769
December253,087 86,981 54,047 413394,528
Period.British Merchant Vessels.Other Allied Merchant Vessels.Neutral Merchant Vessels.British Fishing Vessels.Total
1918
January179,973 87,078 35,037 375302,463
February226,896 54,904 36,374 686318,860
March199,458 94,321 51,035 293345,107
April215,453 50,879 11,361 241277,934
May192,436 80,826 20,757 504294,523
June162,990 51,173 38,474 639253,276
July165,449 70,900 23,552 555260,456
August145,721 91,209 41,9461,455280,331
September136,864 39,343 10,393 142186,742
October 57,607 41,308 13,512—112,427