THE WAR

Levin Daily Chronicle, 15 February 1917, Page 3

THE WAR

(Australia-New oealunt, {'able Service) THE SUBMARINE WAR. London, Feb. 13. In the House of 'Lords, Lord Charles Beresford regretted that the Government had not taken the country more into its confidence. He pointed ont that d'uring the last seven diays 150,000 tons of shipping were lost, of which. 105,000 tons were British. We had fcst since the outbreak of the war over four million tons, This was not so serious as it looked. We had replaced about three million tons. We would do better in the future, but we had a bad time ahead. We were often told that the Admiralty; had the menace well in hand; That was untrue, but it was nearer true now than before, because the men with actual experience oil •modern naval warfare had brought ideas to the Admiralty.

Lord Beresford paid a tribute to the seamen, some of whom had been blown up twice or thrice, but had again signed on. That was the spirit which would beat the Germans. He advocated standardised ships of four or "five thousand tons. "il have faith in the present Government," said Lord Charles, "but more dn the Admiralty. , I am certain that within eix weeks or two months the submarine menace will be well in hand."

Lord»'Lytton said l that resources of the navy had not been found wanting in this supremo crisis. German had the initial, advantage of submarining ships and sowing mines, but we were not afraid of the blockade by terror. Our confidence would continue in the fttture as in the past, not only to supply the armies of our Allies, but to ,keep the sea routes open. The Government was accelerating shipbuilding. The labor difficulty had been overcome. The construction of destroyers had been greatly increased, though all the shipyards in the world would not produce what was required. The arming of merchantmen was progressing. Special measures had been taken to deal with submarines. The measures devised had been of very considerable success, whether in the destruction of submarines or in escape from attack. Our success was sufficient to justify, large confidence. Success in this last phase would depend upon how civilians co-operated l with the navy. It was absolutely essential that the whole available cargo space should be given up to necessities. Lord Devonport's food standard was far from being adopted by the whole country. From the navy's viewpoint it was essential that the regulations would be strictly observed.

It was impossible for t!he Government to fully take the country into its confidence because to do so would be to impart information to the enemy. The Germans should learn by experience at sea and not from speeches the expedients which were being em. ployed besides those which Lord 'Charles Beresford had mentioned.

Lord l Curzon said that the submarining situation was not so aggravated as some assumed. The British mercantile marine consisted of 3800 vessels of over 1600 tone in July, 1314, .of a total tonnage of 16,850,000. The total at the end of last January wtas 3450 vessels of a tonnage of almost .16,000. 000. Thus the net loss from all causes for thirty months of war was only 5 or 6 per cent.

Lord Curzon stated thaifc Admiral Jellicoe and the Admiralty were not •diissatisatisfied with what had been done ini the past fortnight tor with the number of (submarines which woullcl never return to Germany. The results gave us increased confidence for the future, but it must not be forgotten that the most effective method of •meeting the menace was to destroy submarines. Neutral shipping was threatened more than out. The ;Governmont was about to pay increased insurances, and offer premiums to neutral crews. It was also purchasing neutral ships where possible and new construction was proceeding 'apace. The Government was now engaged in a scheme of further restricting or-pro-hibiting certain imports.

Concluding his speech, Lord Curzon said: 'I admit the danger is real, but there is no cause for panic if we keep cool, trust the na,vy and avoid pestering it. We should believe that the navy is doing its best. If we do our duty like the navy the enemy will be disappointed a<nd we will defeat the, greatest menace faced by our country since the days of Napoleon."

(Received This Day, 9.1'5 a.m.) COUNT BERNSTORFF. New York, Feb. 14. Count Bernstorff has arrived at Hoboken aboiard the Frederick VIII. He posed for the motion picture cameras, but declined to be interviewed by reporters. Most stringent police arrangements were made to prevent unfortunate incidents.

CONGESTION OF CARGO. The railway companies announce that owing to the congestion of goods due to American ships not sailing to Europe shipments from the interior for Atlantic ports cannot be accepted. It is believed this will hasten the Government's action to either arming or convoying ships. THE PROHIBITED ZONE. London, Feb. 14. A German official message states that if the American ships Rochester, Orleans and St. Louis, are encountered in the prohibited zone they will be sunk mercilessly. Amsterdam, Feb. 14. A telegram from Berlin states that notice has been issued that all goods

and correspondence handed in for transmission by commercial submarines to America will be returned and freightage refunded; also iiit is announced that the submarines have been ordered to spare the steamer St. Louis, but it is feared.the radiogram will not reach all the submarines. IMPERIAL TRADE CONFERENCE. ("Times" Service.) London, February 14. The Post War Trade Committee will recommend Imperial preference. The Times regards the acceptance of the recommendation assured. REVOLUTION PLOT IN RUSSIA. A Petrograd correspondent, commenting on the arrest of the leaders of Moderate Labor organizations, on a charge of revolutionary conspiracy, states that the <Premier and a majority of the Cabinet favoured workmen's representation on the Central Munitions Board. Protopoff disagreed, revived talk of revolution, and sent the police to raid the leaders' houses. Allegedly they found documents disclosing a secret organization controlling strikes. - The correspondent adds thiat the Russian Labor movement hitherto has not been revolutionary, and its strikes have not interfered with the production of munitions, 'hut Pro. topokoff has transferred the strikers wholesale to the firing line. Protopoff ha® instituted an intense censorship, and lhas banished leading writers from Petrograd.