THE WAR ON THE U-BOATS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 199, 11 May 1918, Page 7

THE WAR ON THE U-BOATS

SINKINGS DECREASING AND BUILDING INCREASING UNCOMFORTABLE FIGURES FOR GERMANY London, May 9. A thousand American mii.'b.ry officials and men dined at the National Sporting Club. Admiral Sims said that a year ago submarines destroyed a million toils of shipping in a single month. If this had continued, the Allies would now possibly be seeking for peace. Since April, 1917, the sinkings hud, gone down, and building had gone up. The twe curves would cross next week. We would then be increasing shipbuilding, instead of tho submarines decreasing the shipping. Germany knew this. Hence her desperate effort ou the West front 'was her last chance.

Washington, May 9. The Government rates for marine war risks have been reduced 2 per cdnt. This is evidence that the submarine menace is lessening. The rale is more,lhan onethird less than in last August. Mr. Edward Hurley, chairman of tho I Federal Shipping Board, .in the course i of a statement, said that the American ! shipbuilding bill for tho year 1918-19' would be 2,223,000,00(1 dollars. The shipbuilding estimates include:—General construction, 1,386,000,000 dollars; plants, 652,000,000. The figures. show an increase of 800,000,000 over the original estimates.

It is officially announced that four Japanese ships, the first instalment of 250,000 tons purchased and chartered by the United States from Japan, iiave nrrivetl at a Pacific port.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ATTACKS ON GERMAN WARSHIPS. Washington, May 9. An official statement from Britain says that more than 40 German warships have been: successfully, nttacked by British submarines since the beginning of the war—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. U-BOAT SUNK BY AMERICAN WARSHIP. (Em. May 11, 0.20 a.m.) New York, May 9. A United States warship fired three shots at a submarine in European waters. Tho third shell lifted the end of the Üboat out of the water. It sank. There were no survivors.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TWO COMMONWEALTH STATE - STEAMERS SUNK (Rec. May 10, 9.30 p.m.) Melbourne, May 10. It is nnnounced that two nf tho Commonwealth Government steamers have been torpedoed and sunk. The Australdale was sunk in October, 1917. One man was killed by the explosion of the torpedo and tho remainder were nicked up.. The Australbush was lost in November, 1917, two men being drowned. One boat containing the chief officer and twenty-four men is still missing. Tho others were saved.—Press Assn. ZEEBRUGGE EFFECTIVELY CLOSED U-BOATS COMPELLED TO SEEK OTHER OUTLETS. (Rec. May 10, 8 p.m.) 9, Tho latest information shows that Zeebruggc is impracticable for tho German submarines, which consequently have, been diverted to other German ports.— Renter. ...