THE WHITE HOUSE
                           WASHINGTON
 
MEMORANDUM                                   May 5, 1942
 
          TO:       THE PRESIDENT
 
          FROM:     MR. LUBIN
 
SUBJECT:  MERCHANT SHIPPING FOR THE WEEK
                    ENDING APRIL 26, 1942
 
 
                            Tankers
 
     1. The immobilization of tankers was reflected in the
shipping figures for the week. No United States tankers
 were reported as sunk during the week. It is interesting
 to note that no British tanker losses were reported.
 
   2. During the week previous, tanker losses aggregated
150,000 DW tons.
 
   3. One new tanker was added to the merchant fleet
during the week.
 
                         Cargo Vessels
 
    4. Although there was a reduction of 35,000 tons in
cargo vessels lost during the week ending April 26 as
 compared with the week before, the total was 140,400
 DW tons. This is at a rate of 7 million tons a year, 
despite the fact that some cargo vessels were immobilized
 in port.
 
     5. The cargo vessel losses for the week were in large
part offset by the new construction of 104,000 tons in the
 United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. This
 means that the net reduction in cargo vessels was
 approximately 35,000 tons.
 
               Tanker and Cargo Vessels Combined
 
     6. The combined net losses for tankers and
 cargo vessels (sinkings minus new construction)
 aggregated 26,200 tons for the