ON THE SEAS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16119, 25 January 1918, Page 7

ON THE SEAS.

THE SUBMARINE

MENACE

THE WEEK'S DEPREDATIONS

(By Cable.—Pres3 Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z.. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 23. A British Admiralty report on' tho submarine campaign during the week ended January 20th, gives the following figures, those in last week's report being given in parentheses:— Arrivals ... ... 2255 (2106) Sailings ... ... 2242 (2184) Sinkings— Over 1600 tons ... 0 (6) Under ItiOO tons... 2 (2) Unsuccessfully attacked • ... 6 (o) Fishing boats sunk — (2) The following table shows the weekly averages for the past ten months ot' British shipping destroyed and attacked but not actually sunk. Tho figures in parentheses indicate the number of weeks included in each monthly period. For the current month the actual figures for the week ending on the date indicated arc given:— Sunk Sunk L'nsucover leoo under IGOO cessrul tons. tons. attacks. March (4) .. 16.25 7 14.50 Aprii (5) .. 26.6 10.4 21.*j May (4) .. 13.75 9.5 2D.25 Juno <o) .. 20.2 5.8 21.00 July (1) .. 17 3 2-5 13.7S Augus; (5) .. 17.G 3.2 O.eu September (4) 10.5 7.5 11.00 October (5) .. 12.8 4.4 1.20 Novembsr (4) 10 25 5.00 li.uj December (4).. 14.25 3.50 10.50 January 6 .. IS 11 January 13 .. 0 2 5 January 2u .. 0 -2 6

DISCUSSION IX THE COMMONS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received January 24th. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 23. In the House of Commons, Mr R. P. Houston asked several questions regarding submarine sinkings. Dr. J. T. Macnamara (Under-Secre-tary to the Admiralty) admitted that a refrigerated steamer was lost on January 20th in the same place and at the same hour as the steamer torpedoed on Christmas Day. The refrigerated steamer was not escorted. Mr Houston asked -whether, seeing the large number of steamers which had been sunk at this spot, the Admiralty would alter the instructions whereby shipmasters fell right into a submarine post. Mr Houston elicited the fact that two steamers from Liverpool and Watcrford were lost with all hands on December 15tli and 17th, only a part of a boai being washed up. Mr J. M. Hogge asked whether a large number of children were lost. Dr. Macnamara replied: "I cannot say." Mr Houston asked whether a vessel was sunk at the mouth of .tho Merseyi with the loss of 42 lives, of which 19 were pilots. Dr. Macnamara said that the vessel was mined, and two were saved out of the 43 aboard. NEW U-BOAT CAMPAIGN. (Australian and N.X. Cable Association.) PARIS, January 23. It is rumoured that the German submarines have been recalled to . their bases. In connexion with the now spring campaign, the "Petit Journal" is of tho opinion that a fleet of so-called submersible cruisers is ready. Naval writers urge increased protection for troopships and cargo boats. TWO STEAMERS SUNK. NEW YORK, January 23. Two steamors were sunk in the Mediterranean, and 703 lives lost. ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE COMMONS. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Received January 24tli. 8.10 p.m ) LONDON, January 23. Dr. T. G. Macnamara (Under-Secre-tary to tho Admiralty), stated in tho Houso of Commons that two ships naU been torpedoed in the Mediterranean,the loss of life being 484 on one ship and 224 on the other. TWENTY-TWO U-BOATS MISSING. (Australian and N.Z. Gablo Association.) (Received January 24th, 8.10 p.m.) HOME, January 23.

The ''Agenzia Liberalc's" Berne correspondent states that 22 German submarines have been missing since December. The German Admiralty, with a view to counter-acting the alarm in naval circles has issued a statement that most of the missing boats have been sent to distant waters, and hope has not been abandoned. STORY OF DARDANELLES . ENGAGEMENT. (Renter's Telegrams.) LONDON, January 23. The Admiralty gives the following details of the engagement with the Goeboa an J Breslau: — "The destroyer Lizard was patrolling and sighted the Breslau and Goeben going north. The Lizard opened fire. "Tho Goeben now sighted the monitors in Kusu Bay, and engaged them, the Breslau continuing to engage the Lizard, which was prevented from closing to torpedo range by tho enemy's accurate fire. "The destroyer Tigress arrived, and both made an effort to cover the monitors with a smoke screen, hut both monitors were hit atid sunk.

"The destroyers followed tho enemy, and an explosion was observed on the Breslau, six miles southward of Kepbnlos, followed by three more explosions. The vo:sel sank in ten minute?. "The Goeben continued southwards. "Four enemy destroyers were then sighted coming out of the Dardanelles, supported by a Turkish cruiser. Tho Tigress juid Lizard immediately engage! the enemy destroyers, which retired, one being repeatedly hit. "Our aircraft forced the Goeben to make for the Dardanelles. While turning, she struck a mine, and steamed off slowly, escorted hv enemy seaplanes and destroyers. The Goeben was now so damaged that she was steered for tho shore, and was beached at tho end of Nagara Point." A wireless Turkish official message states that in the attack on the Goeben and Breslau, destroyers sank two monitors and a transport ship, and blew up a signal station' and numerous munitions deDOts. Tho Breslau was mined and sunk. A Gorman official report states that the Goeben is only slightly grounded. AIRCRAFT ATTACKING THE GOEBEN. (Australian and N. 2. Cable Association.) (Rcuter's Telegrams.) (Received January 24th, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, January 23. The Admiralty reports :- 7r'"Our aircraft made a further attack on the Goeben and secured two hits with heavy bombs. "They also bombed a tug alongside the <miser. '•Anti-aircraft gunfire was encountered, but all the machines returned. "The attacks are being continued."