SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 18

SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

The British Admiralty supplies the following figures of shipping for the week as relating to submarines, which compare with the previous week as shown:— Aug. 26. Aug. 19. Arrivals 2629 2837 Sailings 2680 2764 Vessels over 1600 tons sunk 18 15 Vessels under 1600 tons sunk 5 3 Unsuccessfully attacked ... 6 12 Tho French Department of Marine reports that at French ports the arrivals tor the week ended August 26 were 920, and the sailings 1013. Sinkings: Three vessels over 1600 tons, and one under 1600 tons. Unsuccessfully attacked: Four. The previous week the French figures were: Arrivals, 1049; departures, 1012; sunk, five vessels over 1600 tons and four under 1600 tons; unsuccessfully attacked, three. Tho Italian figures arc: —Arrivals for week ended August 26 were 588; sailings, 587. Sinkings: One steamer and two small sailing vessels; unsuccessfully attacked, one. The Daily Mail says the submarines are etill tho master problem of the war. The losses amount almost to 70 big ships per month, and reveal that we are barely holding our own at -the most severe cost. The Tunes engineering supplement comments that the loss of 825 vessels for a half-year's ruthle?snesa represents about one-eighth of the mercantile fleet. The average loss is 3776 tons for each vessel, excluding 149 fishing vessels. The Pall Mall Gazette says that the navy is dealing with submarines in an increasingly successful way. Admiral Sims has reported to tho United States Navy Department that the work of tho American destroyers in the U boat zone is most satisfactory as regards U boat losses, and is more effective than it was two months ago. Germany has launched a number of submarines 340 ft long, and of 1500 tons, carrying a crew of 50 men each. These vessels are equipped with 40 torpedoes, many shells, and mines to be used in minelaying in the Atlantio near the British coast. BRITISH TRAMP SUNK. The Hamburg Nachrichten describes the sinking of a British tramp ship by a big German submarine. The U boat sighted a steamer of about 1500 _ tons, which excited attention by its high bridge, high deck erections, and the wild, zig-zag course it was steering. The submarine put in the last torpedo it had aboard, which blew up tho tramp, the ship sinking _ within three minutes after a second explosion caused by the boiler blowing up. Only a single boat was launched, and its six survivors confessed that the ship sunk was a tramp ship The captain and all the officers perished. THE ARGENTINE'S DEMANDS. Germany's answer to the Argentine's demand for indemnification for the sinking of Argentine ships has been received. Germany agrees to an indemnification for sinking vessels. It is officially announced that Germany's Note satisfies the Argentine's demand for freedom for Argentine ships in the U boat zone. The Note states that Germany is quite willing to acknowledge tho dictates of international law and endeavour to observe them. • The navy has received orders to regard the agreement from this viewpoint. Germany's action is regarded as indicating a change in the ruthless U boat policy, which caused the United States and Brazil to enter the "war._ There is some suspicion that the move is intended to complicate the Argentine's relations with the Allies and the United States. The German Note to the Argentine states that, owing to her strong desire to remain friendly with the Argentine, Germany agrees "to modify her submarine blockade to the extent of not attacking Argentine ships carrying only foodstuffs. The Argentine Government ha 3 approved of the Note.

The general opinion in New York is that Germany bowed to the Argentine for fear of endangering her vast commercial enterprise and adding another enemy.