THE WHITE HOUSE
            WASHINGTON
 
 
                         May 25, 1942
 
 
TO:           THE PRESIDENT
 
FROM:     MR. LUBIN
 
SUBJECT:      SHIPPING SITUATION - WEEK ENDING MAY 17
 
      1. Shipping losses totalled 36 vessels of 305,000 DWT tons during the week ending May 17. 
 
      2. There were 14 new U.S. and U.K. vessels, aggregating 152,600 DWT tons, put into
commission.
 
      3. The ratio of new vessels put into commission to the number of vessels lost was one to
two-and-a-half. The ratio in tonnage is about one to two.
 
      4. Sinkings during the week were at the annual rate of about 16 million tolls, whereas U.S.,
U.K., and Canadian construction was at the annual rate of approximately 8 million tons.
 
     5. In addition to the losses sustained by the U.S. and U.K. controlled merchant fleets, 14
vessels of 72,000 tons under Allied and Neutral control were lost, bringing the total losses for the
week up to 50 vessels of 377,600 tons.
 
     6. The net loss of U.S.-U.K. ships (sinkings minus new construction) was 153,000 tons. This is
the highest net weekly loss since the week ending April 19. (See Chart No. 1.)
 
                    Tankers
 
7. Thirteen tankers, aggregating 148,000 tons were lost.
 
8. Only one new tanker was put into commission.