THE PIRATE PERIL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3142, 21 July 1917, Page 7

THE PIRATE PERIL

NEED FOR AMERICAN HELP URGED SENSATIONAL STORY IN AMERICAN PRESS ALLIES FACING A CRISIS „,, , New York, July 19. Ihe Aew York "Times" has published j. sensational dispatoh from its special .uondon correspondent, Mr. Charles Gray, which is displayed with cross page heading?, marked "Passed by British Censor." Jlr. Gray says that American assistance is urgently needed to cope- with the submarines. A discussion in wellinformed circles revealed disquieting conditions, which show how serious the position would be in a few months, if the destruction of the shipping continues at the present rate. He adds: "The loss of Allied shipping by submarines totals 1,600,000 tons a month, or more than twice the amount of new construction. The changes at the Admiralty have brought out the fact that at the present rate of construction ajid destruction, unless the British commitments elsewhere are considerably curtailed, there will rot be enough shipping nt the end of a few months to feed England and France, and maintain, the armies. It is a sheer waste of time to keep American destrojers in American waters when the situation here is so critical. Every craft capable of operating against submarines should be sent to Europe at the earliest possible moment."—Aus=,-N.Z. Cable Aesn.

MATTER MENTIONED IN NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT STATEMENT BY ME. MASSEY. The attention of the Prime Minister was drawn to the above cablegram relating to submarine losses. Mr. Massey was sceptical as to its accnracy, but would make no remark upon it. He did say a few words about the slipping situation as affecting us. "1 have been assured/' said Mr. Massey, "that the Shipping Controller in England has lr/st, aid will lose, ro opportunity of fulfilling the assurance given to me that he will do all ia his power to .relieve the acute embarrassment of i\ew Zealand, subject to the paramount necessities of the United Kingdom. "But," added Mr. Massey, "the ship, ping position is still very 6erious. In view of the information that is -caching ■us, I tSink that additional storage should be provided wherever it is possible to do so for frozen meat and dairy produce."