THE U-BOAT PERIL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 70, 15 December 1917, Page 9

THE U-BOAT PERIL

MENACE STILL REAL

STATEMENT BY SIR ERIC GEDDES

A FRANK REVIEW

(Rsc. December 14, 10.30 p.m.) London, December 13. J3ir Eric Geddos, First Lord of the Admiralty, in the course of a statement in the House of Commons,, said that our anti-submarine measures were still develo])ing, nnd wore proving steadily more efficacious; but iho euemy was still building submarines faster than we were sinking them, and was also sinking ships faster than wo were replacing them. Two million wo hundred and eighty-two thousand tons of shipping were launched in 1913. The actual basis of war vessels, on a converted basis, and of merchant vessels, completed in 1917, equals the output of 1913. The merchant tonnage completed in October and November is fully equal to the 1913 rate, whilo that of all classes of shipping is IS per. cent, higher, and future plans provided r.n increase.

Ship-Repairing. Ship-repairing, continued the First Lord, was a far more important question at the present time, because ib took less time and material than building new ships. Since July salvage had only been abandoned on three torpedoed ships in homo waters. Fiftysix ships were under repair at the present moment. The Admiralty in June assumed tho control of these repairs, apart from shipbuilding, in the United Kingdom. Further augmentations of mercantile tonnage were being arranged throughout the Allied world. Our output of war was infinitely greater than before the' war. This was necessary, as it must he remembered that armed merchant vessels were not an offensive weapon against the submarines.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COUNTERBALANCING ENEMY'S U-BOAT CONSTRUCTION SINKING OF PIRATES ABOUT EQUALS THE RATE. (Rec. December 14, 9.30 p.m.) London, December 13. ' A well-informed authority savs Ihat the systematic destruction of the German submarines has reached such a stage that it nearly counterbalances the enemy's submarine construction rate, indicating that as a menace the submarine has about reached its limit. Although no universal remedy exists for combating tho submarines, the various means which are being iitiltesd prove very efficacious, and the growing forces now. at' the Allies' disposal should in tho near future not only hold the enemy in check, but repress thorn and render any expansion of'the campaign snnremely difficult. Notwithstanding this view there are still strong reasons for the utmost economy in food consumption. There is a'growing increase m the tonnage of new shipping going into commission, and within a few months flie enormous shipbuilding programmes in various parts of the world, should begin to outweigh the depredations of tho enemy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A HOPELESS~WARFARE • P. AND 0. CHAIRMAN ON THE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN. London, December 13. At the Peninsular and Oriental Company's meeting, Lord Inchcape said he was convinced that the work of the submarines would not effect the purpose tho Germans had in view. Frightfulness had no effect on the morale of the :nen of the merchant service, who were going to sea just as before tho war. Cadets and apprentices were offering far in excess of anything previously.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FRENCH SHIPPING LOSSES (Ree. December 14, 5.5 p.m.).. London, December 13. For the week ending December 8 the French shipping arrivals totalled 845 and the sailings 967. One steamer of over 1600 tons was sunk. Three were unsuccessfully attacked. [The French shipping return last week showed-.—Arrivals, 839; sailings, 816 i sinkings, two over 1600 tons- and two under 1600. tons ;■ unsuccessfully attacked, two.] ,

AMERICAN SHIPS IN THE ALLIED CAUSE

1000 ALREADY SERVING. New York, December 13. Mr. J. Daniels, Secretary for the American Navy, states that already 1000 > American ships are serving the Allies' cause.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.