ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

LINER TIGHTS U BOAT. PIRATE DISGUISED. mates off by destroyer. Received September 1, 5.5 p.m Ottawa, August 10. Kawa from an Atlantic port states that a Brazilian liner with 350 passengers aboard, was ibelled 'by a U-boat for two huli™, 150 mile* off the American coast. Tlm U-boat was disguised with canvas inqpkq-stacks, and was mistaken by the liner's captain for a patrol boat. An American destroyer, in response to the 6OA call, cam# up and drove off ths Üboat. Women and children remained on the upper decks wearing lifebelts. They watched the shelling until ordered to a place of safety. Twentvfive American sailors descended to the stokehold and helped the crew to speed-up the vessel, which was zig-rag-ging —Press Assoc. SEA POWER DECISIVE. HfFLUHXCE AFTER THE WAR. THE TDRN OF THE TIDE. The necessity of keeping an eye upon the importance of sea power in the preset conflict, deapite the close attention claimed by the land battles, is emphasised by Archibald Hurt, the naval export. writing in the Daily Telegraph on /une 22. have been apt during the recent offensive! on the Western front," Mr. Hard writes, "to overlook after-aspects of the war—notably the fciidamental factor, which is sea power. For a period of fifteen months, daring which our strength in ships has 'steadily declined, the downward tendency has now been definitely arrested. Not only is cur sea power increasing, but our grip on the enemy is firmer than at any previous period of the war. # ' "Seven million toip of shipping enter or leave oar porta monthly Each ship is the target for enemy submarines, yet there have been days in the present week when the enemy has not secured a single ship. "Twelve months ago we were with difficulty maintaining one stream of traffic, namely, that which brought us food and material- To-day supplies are flowing through this main artery in greater volume than a year ago- At the same time, another stream of traffic has started, and merchant shipping has been made svn!!*We for the greatest transport inurement which has ever been carried out. '•For three months past American troop* have been coming across the Atlantic by tens of thousands, far faster than at one time was thought possible. That means that the balance between the Allies and Central Powers is being adjusted in favor of the former. "Viewing the war in its various aspjets, wval, militarr, and economic, we have everr reason for confidence. The tide is - distinctly turning, and turning, let vs hope, Ipr the last time. The submarine menace Is being held. The Allied armies are increasing in relative streneth. The food position of thia country. of France. and of Italy is improving, and shipbuilding both in British and American yards, is proceeding at a greatlr accelerated paee- There Is assurance that bv the end of December at least 4/WO.AOO tons will have been put into the water here and in the United State*; an-* fiat flgnro may be considerably expended.

On th» other hand, the enemy's sinkhtm M British am! ATtiad tonnage bare heen io eoutM«r»Mr reduced cwine to the Mtfvitie* of tV Allied navies and the eon rase and the resmrree of their merchant neamrn. that H is practically sertaln there will he a balance of shippin" on the right aide "Tn a won!, the relative naval, millratv. and economic *tren|tth of the Allies i* «t»»ililv inereftnns at a moment when t'i» enetnv in f*#lhw the eimralative effects -vf ths tilnrtraile maintains) over a nprioH of nearlv fonr v«*rs, with increas- ; n? sfrinpencv. and of the war on land, irhiVi not onlv h*« iwmtted hi heavy -os'iiUi*® hut h*« itrahn") the Central Pwr» of Industrial workers."