ON THE SEAS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16167, 22 March 1918, Page 7

ON THE SEAS.

I THE SUBMARINE MENACE. THE WEEK'S DEPREDATIONS. {Australian and N.Z. Gable Association.) (Reuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, March 20. The British Admiralty report on the submarine campaign during the week ended March 16th gives the following figures, thoso in last week's report being given in parentheses:— Arrivals ... ... 2098 (2046) Sailings ... ... 2317 (2062) Sinkings— Over 1600 tons ... 11 (15) Under 1600 tons... 6 (3) Unsuccessfully attacked ... ... 11 (8) Tho Italian return gives tho following figures:— Arrivals ... ... 467 (430) Departures ... 429 (391) Sunk— Over 1500 tons ... 1 (2) Two sailers, one of which was ov6r 100 tons, were also sunk. The French report gives tho following figures:— Arrivals ... ... ... 975 * Sailings ... ... ... 920 Sinkings— Over 1600 tons ... ... 2 Under 1000 tons ... ... 2 'I he following tablo shows tho weekly averages for the past ten months of British shipping destroyed and attacked but not actually sunk. The figures in parentheses indicate the number of weeks included in each monthly period. For the current month the actual figures for the week ending on the date indicated aro given: —

NEARLY 3000 VESSELS SUNK IN 1917. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, March 20. The German submarines torpedoed and sank 1270 merchantmen in 1917, and sank 1659 by gunfire. MORE NEUTRAL VICTIMS. COPENHAGEN, March 20. The crew of the Norwegian steamer Wegadeslc (4271 tons) have been picked up. A submarine placed bombs aboard the steamer, which is believed to have been sunk. The Norwegian sailer Carla (2282 tons) was sunk bv a submarine, /rho captain was killed, but tho remainder of the crow were rescued. THE DUTCH SHIPPING PROBLEM. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Gable Association.) (Received March 21st, 11.20 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 20. Parliament, by a small majority, accepted tho Allies' ultimatum. (Received March 21st, 10.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 20. A proclamation claims that the seizure of sliips is an indisputable right and a military necessity. NEW YORK, March 20. All Dutch shipping in American waters has been ordered to be seized. Telegrams.) THE HAGUE, IVfarch 20. It is understood that the Allies are not likely to accept the terms laid down J>y the Foreign Minister, except a possible concession not insisting that the vessels taken over be armed. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received March 21st, 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, March 20. The "Daily Telegraph's" Rotterdam correspondent states that there is a rising tide of anger against England and America. The papers severely criticise their Government's action. The "Tyd" compares the feeling against England to that during tho Boer war. The "Nieuwcs" characterises it as a humiliating capitulation. The correspondent adds that the Foreign Minister stated in Parliament that lio had not received the Allies' reply, but despite this tho rumour is persistent in financial shipping circles that

la fresh crisis has arisen, also complicaI tions with Germany, as an order has | been issued prohibiting the Netherlands inland waterway shipping going to Germany or Belgium. Furthermore, the German Government refuses permission for Dutch canal boats now in Germany and Belgium to return to Holland. (Received March 21st, 8.25 p.m.) THE HAGUE, March 20. It is anticipated that Germany will make •"> great display of indignation against Holland, but that thero will be no break of diplomatic relations, because such action would be against Germany's own interests. She will -probably start a bullying campaign, exacting counter advantages. Germany does not contemplate war against Holland. AERIAL ACTIVITY IN MACEDONIA. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Renter's TolcgTams.) LONDON, March 20. A Salonika official message states Our aeroplanes bombed Augusta and Pontn.

Sunk Sunk TJnsucover 1600 under 1G00 cccsful tons. torus. attacks, ilaroh (4) .. 10.25 7 14.50 ~ April (5) .. 26 fi 10.4 31.20 May (4) .. 18.75 9.5 20.25 June (5) .. 20.2 5.8 21.00 July (4) .. 17 3.25 13.75 August (5) .. 17.C 3.2 9.80 1 September (4) 10.5 7.5 11.00 October (6) .. 12.8 4.4 4.20 November (4) 10.25 5.00 6.00 December (4) 14.28 3.50 10.50 January (5) .. 9.8 3.B 8.6 February (4) .. 12.75 4.75 8.5 March 9th ..15 3 8 March 16th ..11 C 11