MERCANTILE MARINE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2651, 23 December 1915, Page 5

MERCANTILE MARINE

THE SHORTAGE OF TONNA6H POSITION LIKELY TO BECOME WORSE. By Telesroph-P«6s Association— ("Times" and Sydney~"Sun" Services,), • (Rec. December 22, 5.5 p.ni.) London, December 21.Tic "Times" naval correspondent sayd the depletion of British mercantile tonnage available commercially oontinues, and is likely to become more marked.: The principal reasons are that a number of enemy vessels are laid up in foreign ports and other losses., and that thereare insufficient facilities for replacing Navy demands, • The Austro-German fleets h'avo been driven out of the carrying tfade, and Russian ships are shut up in the Baltic and Black Sea, while ■ submarining has affected the mercantile vessels because they are the chief sufferers. If shipbuilders were replacing the losses it would not embarras trade, but shipbuilding is being utilised for another purr pose. The enormous development of-tha armies abroad obviously withdraws in- . creasing tonnage. _. , i ' It is rumoured'that it is proposed to purchase Gorman vessels laid up in American ports. It i 6 also stated that certain British lines will be forced to (considerably reduce their sailings, which is a subject of the greatest importance,as the maintenance of an effeotive Navj depends upon a flourishing commerce, and the scarcity of mercantile, vessels may lead to a deficiency in the food supply of Britain.. ' • TWO STEAMERS SUNK. ONE AN EX-GERMAN VESSEL. > London, December 21.' The British Bteamers Bolford and the Huntley (1153 tons) (formerly the German Ophelia, which wa6 captured and taken to Yarmouth), have been eunk." '