ON THE SEAS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16162, 16 March 1918, Page 9

ON THE SEAS.

HOSPITAL SHIF 1 ATTACKED. GERMAN ATTEMPT FAILS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (lieuter'a Telegrams.) LONDON", March 14. The Admiralty reports that the hospital ship Guildford Castle, homeward bound, was unsuccessfully attacked by i submarine at the entrance to the Bristol Channel on the evening of If arch 10th. She was flying Red Cross flagG, and vas showing all the hospital thJp ights. IMPORTANT SHIPPING CONFERENCE. LONDON, March 14. The Press Bureau states tliat fop he purpose of obtaining the moßt ?ffective use of tonnage, the Allied Maritime Transport Council, with Lord Robert Cecil (Minister in Charge of the Blockade) presiding, met at London on March 11th, and is still sitting. DUTCH SHIPS FOR THE ALLIES. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) LONDON, March 14." It is underetood that the Allies ore . arranging to tako over the Ditch ship* ping now lying in Allied ports. The ships will be insured, armed, and convoyed, and returned to the owners after the war. Any sunk in the danger zone will be replaced after peace. The Dutch Government, owing to German pressure, lias not yet ratified the agreement arrived at with the Dutch Commission in London two months ago, whereby Holland was to be fationed .with fodder and foodstuffs, in return for placing 600,000 tons of Dutch shipping; at the disposal of the Allies. WASHINGTON. March 14. The United States and Britain have notified the Netherlands that Dutch ships in American and Allied ports will be seized unless the Entente's demands regarding tonnage are granted by March 18th. BOLSHEVIK MUTINY FAILS. WASHINGTON, March 14. Advices from Norfolk (Virginiaj state that the Russian crew of ihe steamer Omsk seized the ship and demanded that she should bo managed by a Bolshevik committee. They threatened to land the cargo of cotton in Russia instead of at Liverpool. The officers disarmed and removed the mutineers, and arrested the thr<3B ringleaders. BRITAIN'S SHIPPING OUTLOOK. (•'The Time*.") (Received March 15th, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 14. The naval correspondent of "Tho Times" states that the losses emphasise tho seriousness of the shipping situotion. Tho nation must realise that it has entered on the most critical period of the war. Practically every estimate of supply and production has been falsified by events. Priority of consideration must bo given to the problem of combating the submarines. Unless anti-submarine appliances for seacraft nnd aircraft ara forthcoming quickly, and in adequate quantity, the aggregate losses will continue to amount until not all the resources of the Allies wil be able to cop® with them. . "The Times,"" in a leading article, urges the Government to publish the facts fully; otherwise tho nation cannot realise the seriousness of the situation ani-l be aroused to make the necessary „ '