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first eighteen days of February. What were those losses out of, and what was the volume of the trade? Here is the answer:
12,000 SHIPS IN AND OUT IN EIGHTEEN DAYS.
"From the 1st to the 18th February—I am talking now of the daily number of vessels over 100 tons net, arriving and sailing into United Kingdom ports, exclusive of fishing craft or sailing vessels, and exclusive of estuarial traffic—for the first eighteen days of February we had arrivals in port of 607 ships, and we had clearances for the same eighteen days of 5,873 ships.
"That together shows an enormous amount of shipping which still goes on notwithstanding the German blockade. You may take it from me, and it may be another figure interesting to the House for future consideration, and whatever may arise in reference to this question, that the estimated number of ships in the danger zone at any one time—I mean the danger zone at home—is about 3,000."
The losses, Sir Edward admitted, were bad enough and they were dangerous enough, but they were not equal to "the blatant and extravagant bravado of the German accounts." He quoted an intercepted message to New York, taken from the Deutsche Tageszeitung, giving a great account of the actions of their submarines: "They are taking into account that at first the increase in sinkings will not be so very great as they would wish, for submarine scare has been thrown into the English with paralysing effect, and the whole sea was as if swept clean at one blow." Sir Edward commented on this: "Twelve thousand ships in and out in eighteen days does not look anything like a paralysing effect or a sweeping of the seas. Then they go on and say this: 'It caused us nearly joy that English government has seen itself necessitated to forbid publication of ships' losses' There is not a particle of truth in that statement and, so far as I am concerned, I would never be a party to holding back from my fellow-countrymen the losses which I believe, so far from making them shrink from the conflict, will put into them the spirit and determination that will eventually drive back these German vessels."
Some people might criticise his action in giving all these details. Perhaps people would say, "Are you not letting the Germans know how far they have been successful?" Not at all. "I am letting the neutrals know the truth, and in my opinion the greatest asset that this country possesses is the unconquerable courage of our race.
