ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE SHIPPING PROBLEM. SUGGESTED REMEDY FOR • WASTAGE. » -: j Reecived April 16, 5.15 p.m. London, April 15. Tt is stated tliat the total withdrawal of tonnage is fifty per cent. Of this five per cent, approximately is war losses, five per cent, is wastage, and forty per cent, is due to naval and military requirements. Lloyd's returns slio\v that 424 merchantmen were under construction last quarter, just sufficient to make up the. wastage caused by the enemy, but the completion of the ships is another matter. The navy has the first call on labor, and if the submarine campaign grows, possibly industrial compulsion will be necessary for the solution of the problem. A shipowner writes to the Daily Mail saying that the closing of the 'North Sea, after satisfying neutral needs, is a remedy for the shortage of tonnage. There is still sufficient Allied and neutral tonnage for the world's need, but while we. permit neutrals to carry vast quantities of goods destined for Germany we cannot expect to 'have enough for our requirements A DAMAGED TORPEDOER. ACTIVITY IN THE BALTIC Received April 10, 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, April 15. A severely damaged torpedoer passed Helsingbong southwards. Her damaged condition is attributed to a British submarine. Skippers report that a German cruiser squadron is patrolling outside the Gulf of Riga, and that many new German submarines are in the southern Baltic. HUGE STEEL NETS. TO CATCH SUBMARINES, Received April IC. 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, April 15. The Germans are laying huge submerged steel nets, with meshes 9ix yards in diameter, across the international waters south of Drogden lightship, as a precaution against British submarines. INDIAN VICEROY'S ESCAPE. i ! ANOTHER VESSEL SUNK. Received April 16, 5.5 p.m. London, April 15. The Times reports that a submarine attempted to destroy the steamer on which Lord Chelmsford and his family voyaged from England to India. Lloyd's reports that the British steamer Shenandoah has been mined and sunk. Two of the crew are missing. THE SUBMARINE TOLL* Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received April 16, 5.15 p.m. London, April 15. The Times' naval correspondent says that on Thursday the submarine, toll showed an increase. Six ships were reported as being attacked or mined, and it is just possible that the severity of the outburst in home, waters is waning, •hut it continues in the Mediterranean. GERMANY'S BAG FOR MARCH. Reecived April 15, 5.5 p.m. Berlin, April 14. Official: Eighty enemy merchantmen were sunk by German submarines and mines during' March, totalling 207,000 tonß.