THE SHORTAGE OF TONNAGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13972, 19 April 1916, Page 3

THE SHORTAGE OF TONNAGE.

IS BECOMING ACUTE. SUGGEST THE NEUTRALS SHOULD ACT. ' LONDON, April 18. The wheat freight problem is no nearer solution. Apparently the ,Government is still disinclined to commandeer ships. It is understood that they have only provided ten so far. At present the Russian Government will not permit the export of butter. (London Times and Sydney Sim Services.) (Received April 19,' 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 18. Mr.R. P. Houston writes to the Daily Mail: "Tlie. shortage of British tonnage was so great during March that of ' forty-nine steamers loading coal at Cardiff to Italy only three were "British. The Germans undoubtedly are desperately attempting to blockade Britain. That they are very active is shown by the number of our ports closed. I understand they have standardised' submarine parts and are putting them out rapidly. It behoves the Admiralty to turn out a sufficient number of vessels to deal with these pests. The cost ol food is bound to advance, m view of the losses of British and neutral tonnage, and the demands of the Allies on British vessels. Mr Houston advocates requisitioning ships of neutral countries like Spain, which haa seventy German vessels lying m her .waters. The proper course for the Government v to inform Spain that we are unable to errant the use of our ships while German ships are idle m her ports. .