THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1917, Page 2

THE WAR.

(Per United Press Association)

The World’s Shipping

Ottawa, March 23

That the woriu’s triotrjhaiu shipping tonnage at rha close of 1916 was poetically as great as at the end of 1915, dpgpite German submarine warfa e,-ia the encouraging conclusion, arrived at by the Uidled S aies Bureau of Navigation.

According to repons receive 1 by this bureau from va.ious unofficial

source?, entitled !o credocce, the ea.rchant shipping built in the world during the calendar year 1916, .numbered 2505 vessels of 1 899,943 gross tons, while during the aims period 1149 vessels of 2,082.683 gross tons were lost through war causes, a net reduction of about 2u0,000 grosr tons, or one-half of 1 per c ut o i the world’s merchant shipping, which com, rised 48,683,136 gross ton?, according to Lloyd’s Registor ia Jan* 3 , 1916. Of the 2505 new vessels built during the year 1213 were constructed in the United State?, 510 in the U lited Kingdom, and 782 in other countries, including 260 in Japan and 298 in Holland. S ain ia at the foot of the list of shipbuilding ou .tries with only four io her credit. China built more than nine time? as many as Spain, of 38. Oily 18 new merchantmen were credited to Germany in 1916. Prisoners of Utfar.

Wellington, March 26

Sir James Allen has received advies from the High Commissioner (Sir Thomas Mackenzie) that the General Post Office intimates that the traos* mission of parcels for prisoners of war in Turkey has been suspended until further notice. Soldiers from Samoa Aucrland, March 26 Among the passengers from Samoa by the last Island steamer were seventeen soldiene, fifteen on furlough, cos returned for duty, and one medically unfit. The names are :—Sergeant Wordropp (in charge), Sergeants O’Dwyer, Fieher and McCarthy, Corporal Russell, Privates Godfrey, Lloyd, Robinson, McKer z'e, Kerr, Sumner, Atkinson, Ross. Lang, Smith, Nolan and Grogen. A British Success. (Received March 28, at 8.45 a.m) London, March 27 The British have captured Equatconrt and Lcngavfsnes.

Sold to Japan.

Berne, March 27 The Cologne Gazette states that Portugal has sold Macao to Japan, German Deserters in HollandHague, March 27 Frontier report? state that 4000 German deserters hive arrived in Holland searching for food. They were interned at Zevolle. All of One Mind. Petrograd, March 27 Archangel and Vladivostock telegrams announce that the Siberian and Arctic Fleet and all local garrisons will support the Government. The Policy of Preference (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.) (Received March 28, at 10.5 a.m.) London, March 27 A meeting of the Lords and members ofthe House of Commons supporting the principle of Imperial preference, resolved in view of tbe Paris Economic Conference resolutions of June, 1916, and the fact that Lord Balfour, of Burleigh’s committee reported in favour of the adoption of the policy of preference in commercial treaties with our Allies, to request Government to submit the Paris resolutions and Balfour of Burleigh’s report to tbe Imperial War Cabinet.

And the Conference further requests Government forthwith to set up machinery to give effect to the resolutions, and carry out the policy of Imperial preference, in accordance with Asquith’s announcement to Parliament in February, 1916,

That it was not intended to await peace to give effect to the Paris resolutions.

s-rench Report London, March 27 A French communique states between the Somme and Oise artillery dispersed enemy gatherings. Between Benay and Urvillers, south of the Oise, we made important progress in Lower Coney forest. We occupied Folembray and Lafhuille, notwithstanding difficulties of the terrain and a vigorous enemy resistance. We also progressed north of Soissons in the region of Yregny, A Belgian Attack. (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.) London, March 27 Belgian official report states a Belgian detachment raided a German position near Stoenstraat and inflicted losses. We razed field work' and brought buck prisoners.