U-BOAT MENACE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3011, 23 February 1917, Page 5

U-BOAT MENACE

STATEMENT BY SIR EDWARD CARSON WHAT THE ADMIRALTY IS DOING LORD FISHER RETURNS (Reo. February 22, 5.10 p.m.) -- London. February 21, In tho House of Commons, Sir Edward Carson, introducing the Naval Estimates, said that the House would be asked for a vote for four hundred thousand inen. Up to Ootober last, eight million men had been moved oversea with only one or two untoward lnoidents, besides 912 million tons of explosives and. war material, Since o-ot? 1 ' begaa tlle Nav 'y ta i J ex amined -0,874 ships. - Tho submarine menace was a grave problem, and had not yet been solved, but he felt confident that tho measures that were being devised would gradually and greatly mitigate the seriousness of the position. An Anta-Submarine Department of the Admiralty had been established, composed of the best experienced men. The number of armed merchantmen had been increased by over 47 per cent, in the Jast_ two nionths,_ and tho process of arming them was improving every week.-oixty-nino Allied neutral steamers, each of over a thousand tons, totalling 201,000 tons, were sunk during the first eighteen days of December, sixty-five of a tonnage of 182,532 tons were sunk during the same period of January, and eighty-nine, of a tonnage, of 268,631 during tho same period of February, altogether, 118, 91, and 134 vessels were sunk during these respective periods. From February Ito 18 6176 ships had arrived, and 5878 had left the United Kingdom. It was estimated that there were 3000 ships in the danger zone at any one time. Sir Edward Carson added that 75 per cent, of the armed vessels and 124 per cent, of the unarmed merchantmen, escaped after an attack. Tho numbers ?£ *"™?ls an 4 departures at and from the United Kingdom would henceforth be published, and also the names of the ships which,' after attack,' escaped. Ho declared that the German suhmarino losses were not published beoause Britain s polioy, of eeoreoy was most distasteful to the enemy. Also the Admira% was not aware for certain whether a submarine had been destroyed. The faot that we had forty encounters with submarines in February was an enormous achievement. Regarding the fate of these submarines/ tho official reports showed every degree from certainty to improbability. Regarding shipbuilding, he declared (jjiat not a single slip would he unocoupied during tne coming months, whilo steps had been taken to reconcile the competing claims of warship and merchantmen construction. He appealed to the nation to cdnsent to a restriction of_ imports in order to make the Admiralty's task easier. The country was fortunate in having Sir John Jelhcoe at the Admiralty. His knowledge of the service was unparalleled, whilo Admiral Beatty had the confidence of every man serving under him. Lord Fisher waa presiding at tho Inventions Board, and would be associated with the greatest scientist in the country. He (Sir Edward Oarson) belieVed that some critics of tho Government had suggested the non-publica-tion of the names of ships lost, as that vifould give Germany useful information, but lie believed that/ suoh information would only make tho country more determined to achieve victory. . Despite the sinking of vessels, not a single sailor had refused to sail. Neutrals might he nervous and frightened, but the spirit of our sailors was going to win the war. Tho neutrals would soon resume thoir sailings. After giving instances of reports dealing with the fate of the submarines, the speaker said: "The Navy is doing its best, but I am, bound to Sky Kiat we musfc firmly and determinedly take such other measures as can be devised, on the assumption that it is only by degrees that tho danger can be mitigated."

Mr. Winston Churchill said that although there were good grounds for believing that tho submarine campaign would not exercise a decisive - influence on tho war during 1917, we were not entitled to claim that tinio was on our side. Wβ had at last reaohed a very high degree of stringency in our blockade' without losing the goodwill of the neutrals. The entry of America into the war would decisively derange the fearful equipoise between the conflicting nations now existing. The present relations between the United States and Germany showed that our consideration for the rights of neutrals and humanity did not go wholly unrewarded.

NEW BRITISH SEA LAW FOR NEUTRALS !

London, February 21. An Order-in-Counoil has been gazetted enacting that, in view of German eubmarine warfare, unless vosscls bound to and from neutral countries adjacent to Germany call at Britishx or Allied ports in order to be searched, they shall until the contrary is established, bo deemed to be carrying enemy goods, and will be liable to capture and condemnation; but ships calling at British or Allied ports for examination will not bo presumed to be carrying enemy goods, and will not be condemned merely because they are carrying enemy goods.

Only British and Allied vessels are allowed to enter Plymouth until further notice.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICA'S IVAR MEASURES THE NEW ESPIONAGE BILL. • Washington, February 21. . The Espionage Bill which has been passed by the Senato authorises the •President to use the armed forces to enforce the neutrality regulations, and provides that the selling of codes, signal books, and modols .of aeroplanes to a foreign Government in peace time is punishable by twenty years' imprisonment, and in war time by imprisonment for life. Persons communicating to an enemy prohibited news of movements of forces are liablo to bo sentenced to death or to terms of imprisonment ranging from five to thirty years. The Act also authorises the seizure of munition ships destined to the enemy of a nation with which America, as at peace. —lleutor. HUN VANDALISM AT HONOLULU. Sydney, February 22. Advices from Honolulu indicate that the German population there fully oxpeoted a rupturo with America. There are eight German vessels interned there, and, according to statements by officers of a vessel, a plot had been arranged to blow them up. A wireless signal had been agreed upon, involving not only the vessels at Honolulu, but along the Pacific coast. The message was (ipparently harmless, and read "Do j-ou want stores?" but to tho Germans it meant "Diplomatic relations ruptured; destroy ships." The order was promptly executed. Six merchantmen and the gunboat Geier at Honolulu wore quickly in flamos. but in each case tho fires were overcome, though tho vessels, were moro or less damaged. Tne machinery was also smashes. The police, under official instructions., assumed con-

trol of all German officers and seamen, who aro held safely at the immigration station.—Press Association.

AMERICAN LINERS PAID OFF.

New York, February 21. The American Line has paid off its crews and has abandoned sailings. The theory is that tho ships aro being held in caso of their being wanted as auxiliary cruisers.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

_ [The American Line referred to is, by its full name, the International Mercantile Marine Company, of New York. Tho steamers owned by it, at the time of publication of Lloyd's Register, 1916-17, wore: Finland, 12,806 tons; Kroonland, 12,806 tons; New York, 10,798 tons; Philadelphia, 10,786 tons; St. Louis, 11,629 tons; and St. Paul, 11,629 tons.] "

MOBILISING THE HOSPITALS. New York, February 21. .Twenty-eight of the largest hospitals have been mobilised to supply a hundred ambulances and doctors and nurses with least delay, in preparation for hostilities.

THE YARROWDALE'S PRISONERS. (Rcc. February 22, 8.10 p.m.) Washington, February 21, Mr. Lansing (tfc United States Secretary of State) has sent another demand for the release of the Yarrowdale's prisoners.—Router. SUBMARINE NET IN HAMPTON ROADS : (Rec. February 22, 8,5 p.m.) Washington, February 20. The War Department announces thab a net sixty feet deep encloses Hampton Roads, swinging in sections to permit the passage of vessels.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Hampton Roada is the name of the channel to tho south at the mouth of the James River, on the Virginian coast. It is an important naval baso, defended by two large forts, and can accommodate the largest .vessels.] CRISIS ■ VVITH_AUSTRIA (Reo. February 22, 8.10 p.m.) February 21. A semi-official message from Vienna states that the Aiistro-American situation is extremely grave. Count Tisza's newspaper, tho "Pester Lloyd," states that a crisis has been reached.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec.. February 23, O.S a.m.) .1 Amsterdam, February 22. It is expected that relations between Austria and America will be broken within forty-eight hours. The American Ambassador at Vienna has received instructions regarding his departure.—United Service. r AMERICAN. REFUGEES' IN TURKEY Washington, February 21. Turkey has assured the American Ambassador of her willingness to waive all restrictions regarding tho departure of a thousand Americans at Beirut, and guarantee American relief ships against interference by Turkish submarines. The Government is inquiring what measures of security will be afforded by Austrian and German submarines.—Reuter.

MR. GERARD GOES TO SPAIN London, February 21. The "Daily Telegraph's" Paris correspondent says that Mr. Gerard will proceed direct to Madrid to interview the. political heads, and probably a more exalted personage. Political significance is attached' to the visit.—ins. N.Z. Cable Assn.. ThO Hague, February 21. The Gorman newspapers demand that Mr. Gerard disprove Herr Eoveritlow's charges declaring that he spied on behalf of England, and gave information regarding the Casement expedition.— Aiis.-N.Z.' Cable- Assn. GERMAN SNEER. AT 'AJIERIOAN FLEET. London, February 21. Major Morhatj in the "Berliner Tageblatt," sneers at the American Fleet, which, he says, will only supply a broader target for the U-boats.—The j "Times." UNITY OF SISTER REPUBLICS PAN-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP. New York, February 21. President Wilson, in a letter to Senator Stone urging the ratification of the Colombian Treaty, says: "Wβ need now, and, it is possible, will very much more in the immediate future, all friends that will attach us to Central America, where so many of our most critical interests lie."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Washington, February 21. Mr. Neely, in the House of Eepr.esentatives, introduced a resolution providing for a conference of all American Republios to evolve a plan of concerted action to protect neutral rights against the aggression of any of the European belligerents.—Renter. Till? OflA DTBtnflO lab allA rIKAUIIo LATEST VICTIMS London, February 21. (Rec. February 22, 10.30 p.m.) The British sailer Centurion has been sunk. The crew was landed. The Worcestershire's creiy has also landed.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

The Swedish press denounces the submarining of Sweden's biggest sailing ship, Hugo Hamiltonj bound from Valparaiso to Sweden with saltpetre, contrasting the flagrant breach of international law with British methods.— Reuter. ■ STEADIER MURDEROUSLY SHELLED. (Rec. February 22, 8.5 p.m.) Washington, February 20. The American Consul at Queenstown reports that during the sinking of the Norwegian steamer Dalboatie, the German submarine continued shelling the vessel while the crew, 'including two Americans, were leaving.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH OCEAN-GOING. TONNAGE. London, February 21. The report of tho Liverpool Steamship Owners' Association states that Britain's ocean-going tonnage has been reduced by less than 5 per cent, in two and a half years of war. The report says that these figures show ino futility of tho German blockade. —lleutor. WHAT THE ENEMY NOW THINKS ABOUT IT CONFLICTING VIEWS. London, February 22. A message from Berlin states that the following authoritative statement has been issued: , "We must repeat again and again that whoever penetrates the barred zone perishes." — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Rcc. February 23, 0.5 a.m.) Speaking in tho Reichstag, Herr von Betumann Hollweg declared that the submarines had surpassed expectations. Germany had not lost a single undersea boat sinco the. beginning of the unrestricted warfare. The submarine commanders reported that thero was no evidence of Britian's increased defeuciveness. He felt most confident) that

the shipping'of England and neutrals would be completely stopped. The "Morning Post's" Budapest correspondont states that the Austro-Ger-man naval experts have revised their calculations as to their submarine blocltado prospeots. They had previously estimated that England would bo starved into submission, in two months. They now say that England will not feel the "ruthlessness" under a year. "Wβ'only sink," they say, cent, of the British pre-war tonnage. AVo must sink 600,000 tons p6r month to make a real impression." —United Service. ENEMY'S MERCHANT FLEET. < Copenhagen, February 21. The "Taglische Zeitung" states that the three million marks being lent to German shipowners is only an instalment, and will finally amount to a thousand million marks. [A message published yesterday stated: The Reichstag will vote 300 million marks (about £12,000,000) for ship-building, the money to be allotted to shipowners in proportion to their war losses. The Government polioy is to add ono and a half million to tonnage of tho merchant fleet before the war.]