ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

DENMARK'S MERCHANT MARINE. AMERICAN NEGOTIATIONS. Received June 17, 7.30 p.m. New York, June 10. Tho New York World's Washington correspondent learns that America is negotiating with Denmark with the object of securing the Danish merchant marine, nonsisting of 500,000 tons. The Danish mission to the United States lias been consulting the War Trade Board for several days. Denmark resents the enforced idleness of her merchantmen. It is believed the Germans have already been consulted regarding the terms they will allow Denmark to make with the United States.—Press Assoc. , 75 GERMAN SHIPS. i MAY BE SEIZED BY CHILI. Received June 17, 7.30 p.m. Washington, June 10. Peru's aotion in seizing the German ships tnay be followed by Chili, which has seventy-five German ships in her ports.—(Press Assoc. SALVING EXTRAORDINARY. new Devices save 407 vessels. Received June 17, 11.45 p.m. London, June 17. The Admiralty salvage department has salved 407 vessels. In one case a benzine ship caught fire and exploded. The vessel was scuttled, forty shots being fired into her. Divers then descended and plugged the aiiot holes, arid then pumped her out and had the vessel taken to port. In another case a Bhip was torpedoed with a cargo worth three million. She sank, and had a hole 40 feet by 28. A standardised patch was quickly bolted oh, and the new submersible motor pump pumped out some of the hold?, from which the cargo was emptied. The vessel was then floated and docked. Practically all the cargo was saved. Chemists have discovered a remarkable Bpraying preparation for counteracting the sulphurated hydrogen from decomposed meat and wheat, which often made it impossible for divers to work in the I holds of sunken vessels.—Press Association.

THE AMERICAN NAVY. NEED FOR INCREASED STRENGTH.) Received June 18, 12.50 ajn. Washington, June 16. The Navy Department has strongly urged on Congress the need for increasing the enlisted strength of the navy to 131,458., The strength now is 87,000. It is pointed out that there is only one commander of the transport and cruiser force, so that if the nation had to meet an attack with separate cruiser and scout forces there would not be a commander for both. Three additional rear-admirals were needed to remedy the defect. The destroyer and submarine forces could not be properly organised if it was necessary to divert them to fight against surface enemy craft, instead of submarines. Increasing the strength to 131,458 would give 5500 officers, instead of 3700. It is further pointed out that United States must prepare for a larger navy after the war, when the world will be in a "perturbed state."—Press Association. | 180 AMERICAN DESTROYERS. Received June 18, 12.60 a.m. Washington, June 16. The Navy Department announces that America will be sending 180 destroyers to European waters in 1918. A BARQUE SUNK. Received June 17, 7.30 p.m. Washington, June 17. The Norwegian barque Krinsjaa was sunk by a U-'boat eighty miles from the Virginia coast. The crew were rescued.— Press Assoc. NORWEGIAN BARQUE SUNK. Received June 17, 5.5 pm. Washington, June 16. It is announced that the Norwegian barque Samoa, from Buenos Ayres, was Bunk by a U-boat bv gunfire off the Virginia coast on Friday. Fifteen of the crew were rescued. WAJHEMO OFFICERS ARRIVE. Melbourne, June 17. The officers of the torpedoed Waihemo have arrived, en route to New Zealand. They state that the ship was torpedoed without warning eaily in the morning and sank in 15 minutes.—Aus. N.Z. Catile Assoc. A BRITISH APOLOGY. , London, June 15. The Foreign Office announces that the British Government expressed regret that a mine laid outside the proclaimed minefield sank a Dutch pilot boat and killed several sailors. The British are willing to pay the cost of the boat and compensate the victims' relatives.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. PERU SEIZES GERMAN SHIPS. Washington, June 15. It is announced that the Peruvian Government has seized German ships interned at Callao. They make a total of 50,000 tons, including several passenger steamers.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.