SEA WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16687, 6 May 1916, Page 7

SEA WAR

MERCANTILE TONNAGE. PRESENT POSITION STATED. LONDON, May 4. Lore! Beresford initiated a debate in tho House of Lords on tho serious depletion of our mercantile tonnage. Ho said that our war losses from submarines and mines totalled 860 vessels, in addition to 340 vessels lost by fire or wrecks. Altogether our losses amounted to 14 £ per cent, of the available tonnage. Earl Curzon, chairman of the Tonnage Committeo, said that tho Government had requisitioned 43 per cent, of Great Britain's tonnage, of which 14 per cent, totalling over 500 ships, -was carrying foodstuffs and raw material for the Allies. The balance of shipping left in tho hands of the owners was under State surveillance. There were now 100 new ships under construction. The Admiralty was discussing the possibility of releasing a number of shipyards in order that the construction of merchant vessels might bo hastened. THE AMERICAN NOTE. GERMANY'S REPLY COMPLETED., AMSTERDAM, May 5. (Received May 5, at 10.55 p.m.) The German reply to the United States Note has been completed. It forms a voluminous manuscript, and was handed over to Mr Gerard to-day.

DEMANDS CONCEDED.

WITH A PROVISO.

LONDON, May 5. (Received 1 May 6, at 0.45 a.m.)

Daily Mail telegrams from New York and The Hague state that Germany's reply assents to. President Wilson's demands! conditionally on his enforcing the rights of neutrals against Britain on the high seas.

THE RiO BRANCO.

STEAMER WAS TORPEDOED.

SENSATION EN BRAZIL.

URGENT ENQUIRY ORDERED.

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 5. (Received May 6, at 0.45 a.m.)

It is officially confirmed that the steamer Rio Branco was torpedoed. This has occasioned a sensation, and the Brazilian Government has notified the German Legation that it has ordered an urgent inquiry in order that Brazil may take action in defence of her rights as a neutral. The newspapers say that Germany regards herself as at war with the whole world, and they call upon the President of Brazil to rise to the level of the country's destinies.

GERMAN STEAMER CAPTURED. MADRID, May 5.

(Received May 6, at 0.30 a.m.)

The British captured the German steamer Telde (2073 tons), which was interned at Terieriffe. The steamer was anchored outside the bay, fearing a storm. She tried to keep inside, but the wind drove her outside the territorial limit and a British warship came up. [The Canary Islands belong to Spain."]