ON THE HIGH SEAS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9051, 23 July 1917, Page 6

ON THE HIGH SEAS.

AMERICA'S MERCHANT FLEET.

INTERESTING SUBMARINE

RETURNS

NEW YORK, July 20

The Gia.rn.bor of Commerce has urged the Government not to build wooden ships, as they are not speedy enough to elude submarines. The Chamber has oompiled a statement showing that the percentage of attacked vessels destroyed in relationship to their speed is as follows:— Five knots ... 100 per cent. Six knots ... 95 „ „ Seven knots ... 90 „ „ Eight knots ... 80 „ „ Nine knots ... 75 „ „ Ten knots ... 65 „ „ Eleven knots ... 60 „ „ Twelve knots ... 50 „ „ Thirteen knots ... 45 „ „ Fourteen knots ... 40 „ „ Fifteen knots ... 35 „ „ Sixteen knots ... 25 „ „ / Seventeen knots ... 20 „ „ Eighteen knots ... 10 „ „

Americ%'s final plans' .-for the ■.construction"of her fleet of merchant ships provide ofr the building of 445; wooden vessels and 477 steel ones, making a total of 4,711,000 tons.