IMPORTANT NAVAL CONFERENCE IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2988, 27 January 1917, Page 9

IMPORTANT NAVAL CONFERENCE IN LONDON

NAVAL WAR POLICY CLOSER CO-ORDINATION AND MORE EFFECTIVE UNITY OF ACTION By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Rcc. January 26, 9.50 p.m.) London, January 25. The Admiralty during the last few days held an important naval conference at the Admiralty between the British, French and Italian Admiralties, and discussed naval policy in the Mediterranean. Britain's delegates were Sir E. Carson, Sir John Jellieoe, Captain Halsey, Jind Admiral H. F. Oliver. France was represented by Admiral Lacaze Minister of Marine, and Admirals Debon Fatou and Delostende. Italy's representatives were: Admirals Corsi, Marzolo, and Captain Dirillare.v. • ' Moreover, Signor Dallolio, the Italian Minister of Munitions, - and M. Dejoly, the French Director of Shipping, and Signor Ancona, the Italian Under-Sccretary for Transports attended, also naval and civilian exports. Mr. Lloyd- George indicated tho proposals which the British Government was of opinion would tend to closer co-crdination and more effective unity of action of the Allied forces in the Mediterranean. The results were' satisfactory. The decisions wore important, affecting, besides naval operations, tho use of shipping, control of trade routes, and other cognate problems.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. LOSSES OF THE BRITISH MERCANTILE MARINE (ft.ee. January 26, 9.50 p.m.) London, January 25. The "Daily Chronicle's" naval expert states that there is a strong suspicion that the Navy is destroying many more submarines than are officially announced. The Admiralty does not publish lists. It is certain, however, the enemy is building submarines faster than they are being destroyed, and our tonnage losses are increasing. Germany claims she sank 300,GTJO tons of British shipping in '..November, and 419,166 tons in Dec., and a total since the war began of 2,947,475 tons. The official British figures admit the loss of 787,575 tons from January to October. _ ' The tonnage. of new British ships launched during the war until September 30 was 1,873,985. Building was never more rapid than now, and nearly fifty standardised cargo vessels arc now construction, and represent half a million tons. Tho United States ar.e building at tlio rate of over a hundred thousand tons monthly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablfe Assn.