U-BOAT MENACE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9718, 21 July 1917, Page 7

U-BOAT MENACE

DISQUIETING CONDITIONS

AMER ICAN COR RESPONDENT’S PESSIMISTIC DISPATCH.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association NEW YORK, July 19.

The “New York Times” has published a sensational dispatch front its special London correspondent, Air Charles Gray, which is displayed with crosspage headings, marked “Passed by British Censor.”

Air 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 bo in a few months, it the destruction of the slopping continues at the present rate. He adds: “The Joss of Allied shipping by submarines totals 1,000,000 tons a month, or more than twice the amount of now construction. The changes at the Admiralty have brought out the fact that at the present rate of construction and destruction, unless the Brilsli commitments elsewhere are considerably curtailed, there will not be enough shipping at the end of a few months to teed England and France, and maintain the armies. “It is a sheer waste of time to keep American destroyers in American waters, when the situation hero is £0 critical.

“Every croft capable of operating against submarines should be sent to Europe at tho earliest possible moment.” British official tables record that tho heaviest toll of sinkings occurred in March last. For that month the German naval writer. Captain Pcrsius, claimed that U-boats had destroyed altogether 801,000 tons. “NO INFORMATION WHATEVER.” Interviewed by a “Times” representative late last night, the Prime Minister stated that ho had received no information whatever as yet with regard to the sensational statement by tho “New York Times” London correspondent that ‘The loss of Allied shipping by submarines totals 1,000,000 tons, a' month. SUBMARINE BELIEVED SUNK MESSAGE FRO.vT aN ATLANTIC PORT. By Teleffraph—Prefis Asaoolation—Oopyrlghl Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, NEW VOUIv, July 19. A message from an Atlantic port states that the crow of the Angers (?) are confident that they sank a submarine whilo rescuing tho crew of tho torpedoed American tank steamer Archbold. GERMAN SUBMARINE SUNK BY RUSSIAN DESTROYER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 20, 8.5 p.m.) PETROGRAD, July 19. , A German submarine in the Baltic fired all her torpedoes at a Russian destroyer off Lovkyuriof (?) and missed tho mark. Tho destroyer sank the submarine, and ‘ all her crew wore drowned. EAST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Aus. and N.Z. Cable. Assn, and Reuter. (Received July 20, 9.20 p.ra.) LONDON. July 19. East Africa official: Wo continued our encircling movement southward and south-westward of Kilwa, reaching within a mile and a half of Mount Sharama. After cutting roads through dense hush, we drove out the enemy from strongly-defended positions on the Ruipa river. Our columns are nonmoving towards, Pakaras, Operos and Mahenge. The entire enemy force in the Scogea area has been driven towards Mahenge. In co-operation with the Portuguese we occupied Coemle and pursued the enemy thirty miles north-eastward. PALESTINE CAMPAIGN MILITARY SITUATION SATISFACTORY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Reuter. (Received July 20. 9.20 u.m.) LONDON, July 19. In the House of Commons, Mr J. J. MaoPherson, Parliamentary Undersecretary to the War Office, stated that there was no need for anxiety regarding the military situation on the frontier of Palestine. The health of the troops was good. S. RUSSIAN BRIDGE BLOWN UP ATTEMPT TO KILL AMERICAN AMBASSADOR. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Published in "The Times." i (Received July 20, 9.20 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, July 19. Tho great railway bridge over tho Vyatka in Russia was blown up. It is believed_to be the result «f a conspiracy against the life of the American Ambassador, whose special train narrowly escaped wreckage.