WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

[rEll PBESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.]

TOTAL SKIPPING LOSSES

French Bureau’s Statement

(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association)

Paris Feb 1

The Bureau V'ritas in summing up the merchant ship losses between August 1914 and January Ist the German Ighsgs numbered 409 vessels of which 152 ware destroyed and 279 captured and used by the Abies, representing lisßts of 1,2(10,000 tons out of 5,200,000 or 24%. The German cruisers destroyed 126 vessch of which 108 were British.

Submarines destroyed 1520 ships of 3,000,000 tons of w deb 1100 were B itish ships of 1,300,000 tooßor 11% of the pre-war fiUet. Britain has built about 930 ahipi so that the los3 has virtually been made good.

France has lost 12% of her tonnage and Italy none. Portugal has increased her merchant navy by 160,000 tons by seizing German ships. Barman Estimates. [LONDON TIMES SEE VICE. —COPYRrGHT.] I London, Feb 1 Berlin official—ls2 enemy steamers of 329,000 tons and 65 neutrals carrying contraband wore sunk in December. Four million enemy tons, of which 3,000,000 were British, have been gunk during the war, also 401 neutrals of 537,000 tons.

MERCHANT SKIPS

Seriousness of Losses

(Australian & N.Z. Gable Association and Renter), London, Feb 1 Mr Archibald Hurd, writing in the ‘‘Daily Telegraph,” says that since the beginning of August the enemy Las sunk 831 merchantmen, of which 264 were British vessels, 223 Allied, and 344 neutral. The gravity of the situation is not altered by the fact a large proportion of the losses were not British. We have embarked half our merchant shipping into naval and military operations. Tbs submarines are a greater peril than invasion. Fortunately we possess tbo necessary shipyards and engine shops and can turn out two huudred or more standardised cargo boats in a reasonable time, provided there is proper organisation. The matter must be takofTiu hanl without delay, THE LAURENTIC INQUEST. The captain’s Evidence. (Australian & N.Z. Gable Association and Reuter.) London, Jan 31 At the inquest on those drowned in the Laurentic disaster, Captain Norton. of the Laurentic, in his evidence,

said that there were 470 people on board. The vessel sailed at 5 o’clock on the evening of the 25th and the first explosion occurred at 5 55, followed by another twenty seconds later. The best order prevailed. Witness Bud the chief steward inspected the ship before quitting and were satisfied that no men were left on board. Possibly the explosion killed some in the engine room, as co survivors from the engine room had landed. Captain Norton quitted the Bhip when she was sicking. Other evidence stated that one boat contained seventeen fr zm bodies aud another fifteen frozen out of twentynine.