BRITISH SHIPPING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 42, 13 November 1918, Page 8

BRITISH SHIPPING

THE HEAVY DRAIN OF WAR. Although the aggregate amount of shipping available to the Allies *»•>'"! increased at a fairly rapid and expanding rate in the filial stage of the war. the position of British shipping was much lees satisfactory. CMr « « result of submarine attacks .Wit ain lost 1,300.000 tons of shipping in the first six months of 191S and built only 760,000, a deficit for the period of 510,000. During the next three months British losses mid replacements by new construction compared as follow Losses. Replacements. Tons. .Tons. jal v 176,479 151,168* August 178,000 m,67J5 September 152.000 11-1,7/2 ♦Includes 12,220 tons purchased abroad. The losses suffered during October have not yet been announced, but the amount of'new shipping constructed in British- yards in that month was 136,000 tons. Setting new construction for the , whole period of the war against losses by submarines and nil forms' of marine risk, the net reduction of the British mercantile marine has been approximately, 3,900,000 tons. Prior to Germany's capitulation, the position had been altered for the better to some extent by recaptures from Austria and possibly by other purchases of foreign-built ships than those made in July, but as matters stand, Britain carries a somewhat 'heavy handicap in setting out to re-establish her position of supremacy amongst the shipowning nations. The output from her shipyards, however, will, no doubt, rapidly expand. During the last twelve months it was more than seventy-five per cent, that of tlio record pri- .far ytnr.