STRAIN ON BRITISH SHIPPING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3143, 23 July 1917, Page 5

STRAIN ON BRITISH SHIPPING

GRAVITY OF U-BOAT MENACE EMPHASISED SEMI-OFFICIAL APPEALS IN AMERICAN PRESS (flee. July 21, 7.15 p.m.) Mew York, July 20. Leading Now York and Washington papers nro publishing semi-official cable- | grains from London emphasising the gravity of the submarine menace, and railing for more American warships and submarine chasers in British waters. It is stated that the British Navy is now stretched to its utmost capacity. Tho shipping losses from the operations of the U-boats during the first six months of the present year total Si million tons, and will exceed seven million tons for tho year if tho present rato continues. Tho losses from the beginning of the war until the present month total 75 million tons. Up to the present yenr now construction has kopt pace with the losses. Now ships are now launched at tho rate of 1} million tons annually. FRENCH SHIPPING LOSSES THE WEEK'S STATISTICS. Paris, July 21. For the week ended July 15 tho sta-.: tistics of tho submarine losses are as follow (tho preceding week's figures are given in parentheses):— Arrivals 1037 (10G7) Departures 1029 (1000) Sunk over IGOO tons .... :i (3) Sunk under 1600 tons... 2 (l) Unsuccessfully attacked 1 (9) —Renter. LORD NORTHCLIFFEON PIRATE WAR ARE THE OFFICIAL FIGURES MISLEADING? New York, July 20. Lord Northcliffe, in an interview, said: "The submarine is the most serious feature of the war at this moment. The official figures issued weekly are not intentionally misleading, but they do mislead people not acquainted with shipping. Possibly Sir Eric Geddes may issues figures in language understandable by the people. I do not believe in sudden cures for submarines The best counter-method is the building of ships." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICA'S "WOODEN" FLEET OBJECTIONS LODGED ON ACCOUNT OP SPEED RISKS. (Rec. July 22, 5.5 p.m.) New York, July 20. The Chamber of Commerce has urged the Government not to build wooden ships, as they are not speedy enough to elude tho enemy's submarines. vllhe Chamber has compiled a statement showing tho percentage of attacked vessels which havo been destroyed, in relationship to their speed, as follows:—Five knots, 100 per cent.; 6 knots,/ 95 per cent.; 7 knots, 90 per cent.; 8 knots, 80 pei' cent.; 0 knots, 75 per cent.; 10 knots, 63 per cent.; 11 knots, 60 per cent.; 12 knots. 30 per cent.; 13 knots, 45 per cent; H knots, 40 per cont.j 15 knots, 35 per cent.; 1G knots, 25 per cent.; 17 knots, 20 per cent.; 18 knots, 10 per I cent. | BRITAIN'S FOOD SUPPLY STARVATION IMPOSSIBLE, SAYS MR LLOID GEORGE. (Rec. July 22, 5.5 p.m.) Vancouver, July 21. . A message from London states that Mr. Lloyd Goorgo has slated that there is an adequate supply of food for Britain for 1917-18. Starvation, he says, is im-possible.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn". ' MAXIMUM PRICES FOR LIVE CATTLE. (Rec. July 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 20. The* Press Bureau states that the Food Controller has announced the maximum prices for live cattle for Array consump. tion as follow:—September, 745. per cwt.; October, 725.; November and December, (i7s.; January 60s. Tho maximum will bo fixed, and- corresponding steps will bo taken to control the butchers' profits. The prico of flour will be standardised to enablo bread to bo sold at 9d. per quarter.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. DIRECTOR OP FOOD ECONOMY RESIGNS. (Rec. July 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 20. Mr Kennedy Jones, Director of Food Economy, has* resigned.—Renter. (Rec. July 22, 11.15 p.m.) London, July 21. Mr. Kennedy Jones explains that ho has resigned because the special food ecenomy campaign is not so necessary now that the harvest is in.—Renter. NEW PROBLEM FOR NEUTRAL SHIPPING GERMANY MAY N TREAT THEM AS ENEMY SHIPS. (Rec. July 22, 11.15 p.m.) . Copenhagen, July 21. Tfie Kaiser has ordered that nc-rtial ships will be treated as enemy 6hips when totally or in tho greater part owned by enemies, or when chartered by ,an enemy Government, or sailing in the interests of the enemy's warfare. The Kaiser says that this is in retaliation for the Allies' maritime regulations.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRAZIL'S "LITTLEMX" FOR GERMAN SHIPPING DUES ONE MILLTON STERLING. OR SHIPS WILL BE SEIZED. (Rec. July 21, 7.15 p.m.) Rio de Janiero, .Inly 20. The Brazilian Government is suing the Germans for a millioiifsterling for harbour dues on their ships which have been in refuge since tho war began. The claim is unanswerable, and if not paid the ships will be seized.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.