AXIS SHIPPING
                     Eastern Mediterranean
 
     Practically the whole of the Axis shipping between
 
Italy, the Aegean and the Black Sea has been engaged in the
 
carrying of war material and supplies, particularly oil from
 
the Roumanian oil fields.
 
     Recently it was reported that they intended running
 
a regular service between Trieste and Istanbul with three
 
ships:- "CAPO ARMA" (3,175 tons), "ALBA JULIA" (5,701 tons)
 
and "BALCIC" (3,600 tons). The first is Italian and the other
 
two Roumanian. They left Istanbul in company on the 2nd of
 
August and arrived at Trieste on the 15/16th with cargoes of
 
oil cakes, oil seeds, olive oil, skins, valonea and aero
 
engines.
 
     During the months of June, July and August, the total
 
tonnage from the Black Sea to the Aegean was approximately
 
100,000 tons, representing 26 sailings. Of the ships engaged
 
(23) it is claimed three were sunk by British submarines in
 
the Aegean whilst another was sunk by submarine in the Black
 
Sea. The four ships sunk represented a tonnage of 17,516 tons.
 
The majority of the ships were oil tankers.