SUBMARINE-TOLL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9955, 26 April 1918, Page 5

SUBMARINE-TOLL

NEW SYSTEM OF--RETURNS

MONTHLY STATEMENT OF GROSS

TONNAGE LOST.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Ana. and NZ. Cable Asst?, and, Keffiet. LONDON, . April 2i. The Admiralty announces the discontinuance of the weekly shipping returns. In place of these returns will be substituted information giving the gross tonnage lost, also the tonnage of sailings to and from the United Kingdom monthly, which will he published oh the twenty-first of each month approximately. I Tho .following table shows" the gross tonnage losses from all causes of (a) British, (b) Allied .and .neutral, (cj aggregate in the periods indicated. British. Foreign. Total. Tons. Tons. Tons. April, 1917... 555,090 339.61 M) 891,000 April, Mav, June, 1917 1,362,000 675,000 2,237,000 March, 1918 216,000 ''I'GS.OOO . 382,000 „ Jan.. Feb., ' '"" ' Mar., 1918 688,Y!00'436,000 H 11124,000. The losses in. January, February and March, ,1918 (fourth itpm in the table), wore the lowest recorded An any one quarter since the' campaign " began. Those of April, May, and’ June, 1917 (second item), -were the highest quaring 500 gross tons -tod an ■ from the (first item), the heaviest'lossses-in one month. - The Ministry of Shipping announces that the tonnage of steamships exceeding 500 gross tons to and from the United Kingdom, but excluding coast-, wise and cross-Channel traffic, was in March 7,296,000 tons, which is the 'highest since October 1 last year, when the total was 6,090,000 mns. ’ U. 5. TROOPS TRANSPORT IF SUFFICIENT SHIPS BEADY. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. WASHINGTON, April 24. Adjutant-General McCain stated' to tho Military Affairs Committee that if there are sufficient ships it is possible’ to Lave 3,000,000 United States troops in France within a year. DUTCH NEUTRALITY EXPECTED TO BE VIOLATED BY GERMANY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ■ „ ' LONDON, April 24. The London “StancJar.d” states that Germany has clearly ■ resolved to violate Du tell neutrality to secure the passage of men and guns. It is believed in military and diplo matic circles that should violation occur, the Dutch will fight,, knowing that Holland will become a second Belgium if the Germans won. BELGIANJfIARTYRS EXECUTIONS FOR ALLEGED ESPIONAGE. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Australian and Cable* Association^ AMSTERDAM, April 24. Of 63 persons court-martialled at Antwerp on charges of espionage, 24, including a nun, were sentenced to death. Seven, including a priest, were immediately executed. NEW GERMAN EXPLOSIVE WAR OFFICE MAKING INQUIRIES By Telejfrapli—Press Association—-Copyright 1 Australian and N.Z Cable Association. (Received April 25, 11.55 p.m.) , LONDON, April 24. A mvsterious suggestion having been made in the House of Commons that the Germans in the most recent tight ing were using a mew explosive ot chemical, Mr J. D. Gilbert sought a statement regarding the nature of tho wounds therefrom. Mr J. I. Maephefsou, Under-Secre-tary to the War Office, said .that in consequence of Mx Gilbert’s information, he had instituted urgent inquiries, but they were not yet completed. ’ NAVAL ENCOUNTER A GERMAN - ■ By Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrlgU. e-trall an and N.Z Cable Association. (Received April 25, 11.45 p.m.) , LONDON. April 24. . Berlin reports' that. a,.IKUIQI .tpcflWW tered small enemy, on, April 20th northward of Terschelling. Aftei a short fight the-enemy retired at full speed. Vessels wore hit several times. There were no Gorman losses. BRITISH AMBASSADOR NOT TO BE APPOINTED TO ■ RUSSIA. . ,By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrlgb, Australian and N.Z, Cable Aesoclatloa(Rceived April 25, 11.45’ pm.) LONDON, April 24. ” Mr Balfour informed tho House o'. Commons that ho did not intend to appoint an Ambassador to Russia. WOOL IN AMERICA COMPULSORY PURCHASE BY GOVERNMENT. lls Telegraph—Frees Asaccialidn—Copyright Australian and b Z. Cable Association. WASHINGTON, April 24. The Government has decided tocompulsorily buy all wool now warehoused at the price prevailing in July last.