MEMORANDUM
 
THE WHITE HOUSE
 
WASHINGTON
 
May 25, 1942
 
TO:           THE PRESIDENT
 
FROM:     MR. LUBIN
 
SUBJECT:      SHIPPING GAINS AND LOSSES -
              FINAL FIGURE FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL
 
              1. An all-time high of 56 ships, aggregating 619,000 DWT tons, were put into
commission in April by the United States and the United Kingdom.
 
              2. Losses of U.S. and U.K. controlled vessels also reached an all-time high; the total loss
for the month was 131 vessels aggregating 1,158,OOO tons.
 
              3. For every new vessel up into commission during April, 2-1/2 were lost. Tonnage
losses were twice as high as new construction.
 
              4. Losses in April were 13 per cent higher than in the previous peak month (March).
(See Chart No. 2.)
 
              5. In addition to losses of U.S. and U.K. controlled ships, the Allied and Neutral losses
in April were 28 vessels of 158,000 tons.
 
              6. The total U.S., U.K., Allied and Neutral loss in April was 159 ships of 1,316,O00
tons.
 
              7. New construction for the month was equal to about 46 per cent of these total losses.
 
(See attached Table No. 2.)