ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

MERCANTILE TONNAGE. A DISCUSSION IN THE LORDS'. Lonucn, Hay 4. Lord Beresford initiated a debate in tile House of Lords 011 tile serious depletion of mercantile tonnage. Hfc said our war losses from submarines and mines totalled 800 vessels, and in addition !i4() had been lost liy lire and wrecks, making our losses li'/z per cent, of th<» available tonnage. Lord Curzon, chairman of tlie Tonnage Committee, said tlie Government, bad requisitioned 43 per cent, of Britain's tonnage, and 14 per cent., 'totalling over 5(10 ships, was carrying foodstuffs and raw material for the Allies. The balance was loft to owners, under State surveillance. Five hundred ships were under construction. The Admiralty was discussing the possibility of releasing st' number of shipyards, in order that the construction of merchant vessels might be hastened.

THE SHIPPING SHORTAGE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, May 4. The shortage of shipping is causing Scandinavia to .send oi.lt anything floatable to participate in the enormous freights. A Danish company ha? refitted two barges built in 17CO. MINE-SWEEPERS BLOWN UP. Copenhagen, May 4. The newspaper Libestifts Tidende narrates that, on October 7, eight or nine mine-sweepers, under the auxiliary cruiser Kaiser, were anc'hored in the Sound. Several terrific explosions in the evening revealed the presence of a British submarine, which sank three, and a fourth was badly damaged. The remainder fled to Kiel. GERMAN SHIP CAPTURED. Received May C, 12.30 a.m. Madrid, May 5. The British captured the German steamer -Telde, which was interned at Teneriffe. She was anchored outside in the bay, and, fearing a storm, tried to come inside, but the wind drive her outside the territorial limit, and a British warship came up and seized her.