ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1917, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THREE DESTROYERS SUNK. NWBTY-TBREE LIVES LOST; tons, ttd 82. Coble Assoc and Renter. Received Dec. 30„6.5 p.m. < . i London, Dec. 29. He Admiralty reports that three British destroyers were mined or torpedoed 4tt the Dutch coast during the night of December 88/23. Thirteen officers and A men were lost. GERMANY'S SUBMARINE LOSSES. ' UiaGM THAN OUTPUT. Ana, and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Keuter. Received Dec. 30, 5.5 pjn. Rome, Dec. 29. n Corriere. dltalia learns from Germany that the submarines sunk during laat quarter were ten in excess of those MUtrnoted during the same period. , FIVE NORWEGIAN SHIPS SUNK : .THIETY MEN KILLED. • Copenhagen, Dec. 28. Submarines sank five 'Norwegian .tauten, killing 30 men. ADMIRAL VON TffiPITZ ON THE U BOAT. Amsterdam, Oct. 13. true Berlin Post qpptes an interview «/itk Admiral von Tirpitz on the submarine war. Admiral von Tirpitz said:— & long aa the sinkings exceed the possible increase of tonnage—and all expert! are agreed that this will actually be the case in the future also—final victory orer England may be expected with absolute certainty. The submarine war need* time; one must not expect victory immediately, but we may go forward resolutely to this war next winter. We may have confidence that we can hold out till the effect of the submarine war asserts itself.

"|l it not possible, your Excellency," asked the reporter, "according to human judgment to fix a time to-day with certainty when the full .effect of the submarine war will manifest itself?" Admiral Ton Tirpitz declined to bind himself to any definite period, and said: "He moment of success cannot be fixed t»» month, but if we hold fast victory is absolutely certain. Economically anl as regards raw materials we are, in ray-'.opinion, stranger than France and Italy. TJ* .capacity for holding out of the English cannot yet quite be estimaed. The decisive factor, however, is that, 1 while we cover four-fifths of onr economio needs from oar own production, England must fetch four-fifths from overseas.'' Bnally Admiral von Tirpitz reiterated his- firm •onfidence in a German victory, but added:— ■SSaturally, if we whine for peace, we attain the opposite of that which we sboufl attain. The confidence of our own. people would he crippled, while the w4B ctonr enemies to conquer would be stimulated.. centre of gravity of our policy lie* ift tike- Belgian question." WJtfc flashing eyes and thumping the taU« with his Ist, Admiral von Tirpits exclaimed with emotion:— *s* stand in the hour of destiny for oar people, as I recently said at the Philharmonic Hall. What is at stake is', neitto nvfre nof less than this—Shall' GertMby fall or not? If only the people Would understand that. Germany -eannot assert herself as a world Power igafaat England unless she bases her faSUta vis-a-vis England on might."