THE TONNAGE PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2745, 13 April 1916, Page 5

THE TONNAGE PROBLEM

! WHY NOT USE ENEMY SHIPS IN NEUTRAL PORTS? ' v By Telegraph—Presp Association—Copyright("Times" and .Sydney'"Sun'' Services.) ■ ••(Reo.-- ! lpril 12,'. ;5:5 London," "April 11. Speaking in the House'of Comrhoiis, Lord_ Robert Cecil (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) said that, the Government was - considering the. question of. employing enemy ships which were sheltering in neutral ports. --The neutral Government must first decide, taking into consideration the faot that the destruction of merchantmen affected neutral trade as well as that of the belligerents. The Government would carefully consider any proposals from neutral Governments..

Mr. R. P. Houston," M.E.; shipowner (Houston Line), interviewed by the "Daily Mail," said, that the shortage of shipping threatens to create the most 6erious problem of the war. "On this depends not merely., the price of .foodstuffs, but whether the foodstuffs will be available.' I estimate the British wartime losses at 940 ships, representing 3,000,000 ions. Between one-third and one-half of the nation's food is brought in neutral ships, and if Germany frightened neutrals, what tonnage would be left?"

Mr. Houston suggests the release of all ships not needed for national service, and the seizure in> neutral. waters of a' German ship for every neutral ship ( sunk. Mr. Houston- indicts the Government for the Admiralty's waste of tonnage and its weak handling,of the situation, and mentions that an. expert committee recently investigated in the Mediterranean. He would be surprised if its report were published, because it was confirmatory of the Government's foolish waste of tonnage.