ON THE SEAS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15605, 1 June 1916, Page 7

ON THE SEAS.

SHORTAGE OF SHIPPING

MAXIMUM COAL FREIGHTS I'OU Fit ANCE. (By Cable.—Frc:rs Association.—Copyright.) (Received May 31st, 9 p.m.) PARIS, May 31. Britain and France haro agreed to fix maximum freight rates for coal, thus reducing pnYe.s by 3-3 per cent. This, in addition To a reduction of -lo per cent,, in ireighfr rates means an annual saving to France of £10,000,000. GERMAN MERCANTILE MARINE. HERR BALLIN'S ASSURANCES. COPENHAGEN. Mnv .'3O. Herr HalJin, at a meeting 'of the shareholders of the Wocrmann Line, said that when the Avar was ended a ucw commercial war would begin. Germany would hare an antagonist who, during the wax, had become very strong, but she would, with undaunted courage, commence the great national work of restoring her mercantile marine, knowing that the Reichstag would assist. "After a sueccssful war," added Herr Ballin, "wo must settle the questions of the 'freedom of the seas 1 and of our colonies, in order that Germany shall not be merely 'England's lodger.' " The shareholders of the Wocrmann Lino will derive cold comfort from the assurances 0 f Herr Ballin. Before the war the company's fleet comprised 22 steamers, several of considerable size, which wore employed in the African trade. At least half of the fleet has been captured by British cruisers, several have been sunk, and others liavo been requisitioned by Portugal, and tho remainder are lying idle in German or Brazilian ports. THE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN. | IN THE- BALTIC, 1 ENGAGEMENT "WITH ARMED TRATOLEES. STOCKHOLM, May 30. A submarine between Hafrige and Landsort, a lighthouse south-west of Horo, in the Baltic, had a brisk engagement with German armed trawlers, which were escorting a convoy of oreladen steamers. Details are awaited. IN THE ADRIATIC.

AUSTRIAN TRANSPORT SUNK

R<SME, May 30. A semi-official report says that an Italian warship, on tho night of May 28thj torpedoed and sank a large transport close to Trieste.

NEW SUBMARINES,

PRODUCTION IN GERMANY

(Received May 31st, 8.20 p.m.)

ROTTERDAM, May 31. A private letter smuggled out of Germany says that 22 submarines hare been turned out by the Schwartzkopf Works in the last eight months.