ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1917, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE MAILED FIST. . STILL IN EVIDENCE. Amsterdam, January 1. The JV-.euz Zeitungs Berlin cornepublishes the text ot a seeret/'eniorandum o! the Council of the German Navy League, transmitted to Herr von Bethmann-Hollwcgg in June It states that England was preparing for war for eleven years and had an immense military superiority Her trained skill in forming alliances was successful in welding together the Empire and in winning over all important non-German navies, while the United States shammed neutrality. After the war England will, in addition to a navy, have an army of several millions based on compulsory service. Belgium in her hands will constitute a grievous peril to Germany. The key ,to the future lies m Belgium being under Germany's political influence. This alone would effectively threaten the British Island Empire., If the coast of Flanders was in our possession England would not dare to send armies to France A return to the pre-war situation in Belgium will be equivalent to defeat in this grievous struggle. Antwerp must be politically and economically dependent on. Germany. It is an" essential link in the world-encircling chain of German sea trade. Recovery of the .German colonies is indispensable for the defeat of England, which hopes after the war tn be undisputed master of the world for a century, as after Trafalgar. The protection of the German ■ colonies and eihr world trade will require a cruiser fleet able to relv on a few strong land bases and floatin« oases in the shape of supply ships. ° The* Navy League considered it imsos»ible to arrive at any agreement •With Britain except an agreement consisting of fear of our strength.

THREE VESSELS SUNK, Received Jan. 2, 8.30 p.m. London, Jan. 1. United Service. The British steamer Apsley Hall, the Russian steamer Tuskar, anil the Norwegian E.\da have been sunk. MORE SUBMARININGS. London, December 31. The Norwegian steamers Nystrand and Hero and the barque Karmoe, the Swedish steamer Meriddis, and the British vessel Arorisay have been sunk. The Norwegian steamer fhyra and the British sailer Harry Wadams are believed to have been "sunk. Thirteen of the Thyra's crew were saved. The British steamers Zoroastea and Aislaby (have been sunk. The crew of the Aislaby were landed. The captain is a prisoner aboard the submarine. The Danish steamer Denmark has been torpedoed. Twenty-four of the erew were saved.

LOSS OP THE GAULOIS. London, January 1. Official.—The French cruiser Gaulois was tprpedoed in the Mediterranean, but only four lives were lost. (The Gaulois' tonnage fas 11,105. She. was biult in 1896 and carried four 12in guns). Paris, January 1. In view of the loss of the* first French battleship during the war naval critics contend that the armor-plating of'warships^under the water-line is in° 'adequate, otherwise it would not be so easy to sink tihem; also water-tight comnartments must be made smaller. NORWAY'S LOSSES. Copenhagen, December 31. During 1916 Norway lost 272 ships, of a total tonnage of 367,000, valued at 800,000,000 kroner. NEW CARGO VESSELS. London, 31. It is understood that the State is placing large orders for new cargo vessels of 8000 tons deadweight on simple lines, with standardised bulls and engines. '' MAILS BY SUBMARINE. Copenhagen, December 31. Germany announces that she will accept letters for submarine transmission to America up to 60 grammes weight, at a charge of two marks per twenty grammes.