|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | | To end | | | | | PLYMOUTH. | of | 42 | Nil. | Nil. | | | Aug. | | | | | |----------------------------------------------| | | To end | | | | | | of | 246 | Nil. | Nil. | | | Oct. | | | | | |----------------------------------------------| | | To end | | | | | | of | 414 | 1 | .23 | | | Nov. | | | | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | | To end | | | | | FALMOUTH. | of | 14 | Nil. | Nil. | | | Aug. | | | | | |----------------------------------------------| | | To end | | | | | | of | 146 | Nil. | Nil. | | | Oct. | | | | | |----------------------------------------------| | | To end | | | | | | of | 185 | Nil. | Nil. | | | Nov. | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------- In the convoys starting from Queenstown 180 ships had been sent out up to the end of November without loss. There were naturally loud complaints of these losses, but these were inevitable in the absence of escorting vessels, and no one realized the dangers run more than those responsible for finding protection; every available vessel was not only working at highest possible pressure, but, as has been mentioned, breakdowns from overwork amongst escorting craft were causing very considerable anxiety. The following figures show the dangers which were run by unescorted vessels: Losses amongst British merchant steamships in 1917 by submarine attack, under separate escort, under Period convoy or unescorted. Ships under Ships Ships separate under unescorted. escort. convoy. Quarter ending June 30 ... 17 26 158 Quarter ending September 30 ... 14 29 148 October and November ... 12 23 90