STARTING IN RIGHT

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 89, 14 April 1917, Page 5

STARTING IN RIGHT

AMERICA'S ENTRY INTO WAR

BIG SHIPBUILDING SCHEME

(HEUTER'S TELEGBAM.)'

LONDON, 12th April. Speaking at the American luncheon to Mi 1. Lloyd George, Mr. W. H< Page, United States Ambassador, said:— "■We have sot out to help an enterprise for making the earth a .place worth living in. We come in answer to the high call of duty, not for any , material reward, or territory, or indemnity, or conquest, or anything. We have, only "before us the high duty to succour democracy when it is desperately assailed." Mr. Lloyd George, in the course'of his. reply, said: "When the Americans were told that they would-not be allowed to cross or re-cross the Atlantic except at their peril, they could not think it possible that any sane people should behave in that manner. They tolerated it once, they tolerated it twice, until at last it became clear that the Germans really meant it. Then America acted, and acted promptly. Hindenburg's line was drawn along the shores of America, and Americans were told they must not cross it. America said: ■ 'What's this?' Germany said: 'This is our line, beyond! which- you must not go';, and America said: 'The place for that line is not the Atlantic, but on the Rhine, and we must help you to roll it up.' And they have started on the road to victory with the absolute assurance that victory must be found in the one word 'ships.' With characteristic keenness, the Americans fully realised x that, and hay& already arranged to build 1000 3000-tonners foil the Atlantic X trade. The British are a slow and blundering people, biit they 'get there." The. Americans get there sooner. That is why we are glad to see them in. "We have been three years in-this, business, and having got through every blunder, we have got a good start. Now that we are right out on our course it is suggested, that America should study British blunders and start where Britain now is, not where she -started." Among those present at the banquet were Mr. Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Sir Joseph Ward, Minister for Finance.^ AN ARMADA OF MERCHANTMEN . ' LONDON, 12th April. Reuters-correspondent at Washington, commenting on America's war preparations, says: President Wilson believes that he can do the greatest 'service to the Allies by providing an armada of merchantmen to invalidate the German under-sea campaign. The country's entire ship-building facilities, including 100 new plants, will construct a fleet of wooden ships of 2000 tons and upwards. The first year's production will average three ships per day. These vessels will be armed. Major-General Goethals, the builder ■of the Panama Canal, will be in charge of the scheme. ■ PURCHASE OF NORWEGIAN SHIPS (AUSTBALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received April 14) 9.30 a.m.) 1 ' CHRISTIANIA, 13th April. • Norwegian shipowners have sold to America 200,000 tons of shipping building in. American yards. The newspaper Dagbladet urges the arming of .Norwegian merchantmen. CO-OPERATION OF UNITED STATES FLEET (Received April 14, 8.30 a.m.) , ,\ LONDON, 13th April. ;', (Rear-Admiral Sims (of the American Navy) has arrived to discuss/with the British Admiralty as to the best means of co-operation of the American ' Fleet. • ■ . ■ SUBMARINES IN THE PACIFIC . . {BBBTER'S TELEGBAM.) ' / .. ■ SAN FRANCISCO, 13th April. The naval authorities state that submarines are reported in the Pacific, They are probably off the Mexican coast. INSURANCE RATES DOUBLED (AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) SAN FRANCISCO, 13th April. Despite the understanding between Japan and the United States to cooperate to protect Pacific shipping, marine insurance rates have risen 100 per cent. •' - Australian rates are expected to increase from 12£ cents to one dollar per hundred dollars of value. The passenger business ia already affected. /