THE SUBMARINE WAR.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16265, 16 July 1918, Page 7

THE SUBMARINE WAR.

BRITAIN'S SHIPPING LOSSES,

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) _ LONDON, July 13. . Staff-Paymaster Hughes, in a speech m London, said that the plans for attacking Zeebrugge were thought out sue months ago. The expedition started twice previously, but had to return. German submarines to the end of 1916 sank a million British tons, and bbtilt six millions in 1917. During those months of sorrow ships were going down like autumn leaves. That was why the Zeebrugge nest was attacked. There_ were three hundred warshins in the Navy proper at the outbreak of war—now there were 3500. A Clyde shipyard recently launched its fortysecond warship in the war period. Staff-Paymaster Hughes narrated an example of German brutality. A British patrol boat in the Atlantic discovered a derelict U-boat and rescued the crew. Before blowing up the vessel the commander asked if all were safe. The submarine commander replied 'Tes." He called the roll, and all answered. When they pushed off preparatory to drowning* a depth charge, the commander of the patrol boat heard a tapping, which continued: Despite repeated assurances that all had been saved, the British commander did not believe the German. He ss arched the U-boat, and found four British seamen tied up.