ON THE SEA.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 March 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE NAVAL SITUATION. * . ~. 1 SPEECH BY FIRST LORD OF THE. { ADMIRALTY. ( SUBMARINE MENACE CONTINUES , ‘ —M ’ LONDON, March 5. In the House of Commons, Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord of the Admiralty in introducing the Naval Estimates, said that generally the naval warfare proceeded increasingly in our favour. It continued to be chiefly a trial of strength between enemy ■ submarines and Allied submarines. "We depended on indisputable information from neutral sources in regard to the certain success of other enterprises. Occasional raids on our convoys and the English coast were the natural outcome of a blockading fleet. He believed that the exit of-' the Goeben and the Breslau was duo to engaging in a similar raid. The loss of the Breslau was serious to the enemy. Regarding the recent enemy raid on Dover Straits it was commonly believed that the passage of submarines through the Dover Straits had been prevented by nets and other obstructions since early in the war. That was not the case. Undoubtedly ' a considerable number of submarines, passed through the straits towards the end of last year. Recently a more vigorous policy was adopted and a surface barrage maintained across the Channel day and night in .order to obstruct the passage of submarines.' night-time patrol boats, numbering oyer a hundred, ' burned flares, so that submarine at--1 tempting to pass on the surface had a reasonable chance of being engaged.

Regarding the Dover raid, Sir Erie Geddes said that night raids of this kind could always be undertaken by a determined enemy. Dealing with anti-submarine operations, Sir Eric

Geddes said the Alilcd Naval Council kad extend those utilised in Home waters, where they had proved most successful, to the Mediterranean, Where the main operations were now placed under-tho—charge of ViceAdmiral CalthdrpC; ' This, was; one of the first fruits'of'the 'Allied Naval Council, wherefrom was hoped to de-, rive a material increase of benefit. The British were establishing' at variouspoints on the Mediterranean and- in"

the Adriatic, large works for combined aerial and naval warfare. British naval officers, at the request of the Greek’ Government, were assisting in the reconstruction and reorganisation of the Greek Navy and dockyards. Sir Eric Geddes emphasised the cordiality of the relations between the Allied naval heads, and announced that the forces in European waters would ’ shortly be augmented by Brazilian warships. He especially dealt with tlie close- Anglo-. American co-operation.- The lossog-vof merchantmen were still tending to decrease. ; The loss of the world’s tonnage in February was just over half that of the previous February. The loss during five months to the end of February was ten per cent less than the corresponding five months. The output of ships by Britain in January was only 58,000 tons. He hoped that the output during February would bo double The main cause of the decrease was labour troubles. Euless there was speedy improvement, the point at which production would balance losses would be dangerously postponed. He emphasised that Britain must rely in the coming critical period upon her own resources, for a erable time must elapse before the desired American output would materialise.

Sir Eric Geddes reiterated that submarine menace continued; it was not yet mastered. Submarines were being increasingly destroyed. He was confident that this increase would continue. He knew that Gorman submarine crews were growingly reluctant to put to sea, especially in the North Sea, North Atlantic and the Channel. The chances of submarines in those waters returning home were about one in four, and recently the Anglo-Ameri-cans had been sinking submarines in Home waters as fast as they were being built. Britain and the Allies were now able to devote more attention to submarines in the Mediterranean. The enemy continued to increasingly exaggerate the tonnage sunk in order to hearten their people. The losses of convoyed ships continued low.

A TRIBUTE TO THE NAVY

Received 8.45. ' LONDON, March 6. Sir Eric Geddes, continuing, s-a’d submarines were operating to an Increasing extent inshore, rhus giving qn increased opportupnity to patiol craft and aircraft to attack, and allowing a greater amount of salvage to be carried out. Ha concluded by paying warm' tribute to the Navy and mercantile marine, especially the destroyers and escorting craft. The Navy indeed was the shield of the Allies.

SUBMARINE LOSSES.

LONDON, March 6.

The statement regarding submarines, made in Sir Eric Geddes’ speech caused perplexity in the ITodse of Commons. Subsequently, he explained privately that what he intended to convey was that one subnfarine in every foub or five operating in Home waters failed to return to Germany. MR. ASQUITH’S OPINION. MORE INFORMATION WANTED. & Received 1F.55. LONDON, March 6. In the House of Commons, following Sir Eric Geddes’ statement, Mr, Asquith regretted that more information was not given .regarding British losses through, submarines and the measures taken to make them good. It was unlikely thettemper of the Allies would he endangered by the fullest disclosures. Britain’s most essential service to the Allied cause was the provision of more ships. This xVas the supreme need. ANOTHER LINER TORPEDOED. 600 PERSONS ON BOARD. Received 8.55. LONDON, March 6. The Allan liner Galgarian, of 17,515 tons, has been torpedoed off the Irish coast. She had 600 persons aboard.

STANDARD SHIPS. Received 8.45. LONDON, March C. In the House of Commons, Mr. Chiozza. Money stated that seventeen standard ships, totalling 86,030 tons, had been built to the end of February. FORTY-SEVEN LIVES LOST. Received! 10.30. LONDON, March 6. The Admiralty reports that the armed mercantile cruiser Calgarian was torpedoed and sunk on March 1. Two officers and forty-five men were lost. $ . m. ' i r—' 1 ;f ATHE SEE ADLER.- * , ■ i v / > v.-.

59 OFFICERS MEN LANDED.

VALPARAISO, xMarch 5. : t A Chilian schooner* lander at Tecahuano 58 officers and crew of the See Adler. They wore from the schooner Fortuna, which was wrecked in the vicinity, of the Eastern Islands.