SUBMARINE MENACE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 24, 26 March 1918, Page 4

SUBMARINE MENACE.

GRADUALLY BEING CONQUERED,

LONDON, March 20,

Speaking in the House of Commons, Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord of the Admiralty, stated that the British losses during the war period totalled 20 per cent. The world’s tonnage had fallen 2i per cent. The actual world’s sinkings during the year ended January were roughly six million tons, though Germany claimed to have sunk 9J million tons. Britain in the fourth quarter of 19.17 constructed 420,000 tons, and the Allies and neutrals 512,000 tons. The world’s shipping losses in the fourth quarter of last year totalled 1,200,000 tons. It was the lowest quarter during the war, but the current quarter would probably be lower. The British losses in the same quarter averaged 260,000 tons a month, and British shipbuilding 140,000 tons a month. Although these figures were reassuring, the January and February results were disappointing. He hoped with confidence that the country realised the need for a supreme effort.

Sir Erie Geddes stated that the world's ocean-going tonnage at the beginning of the war, excluding enemy tonnage, was 33,000,000 tons. Referring to the percentage of losses, he said the reason of the great losses of the British was mainly due to submarinism being specially directed against Britain with the object of starving us. He declared that it was well within the capacity of the Allied yards, and even of the British yards before very long, with a proper supply of material and man-power, to replace entirely the world’s losses on the present figures. The output of new British tonnage in 1915 and 1916 was very low, and before intense submarinism began we were over 1,800,000 tons to the bad. At present 47 large British shipyards were wholly engaged in the construction of ocean-going merchantmen. We had enormously increased the output of repaired tonnage. The present need was skilled labour. We were gradually getting skilled labour from the Army; 1800 skilled and unskilled workers had been returned to the yards up to March 18th, and 885 others were demobilising. The difficulties were gradually being overcome, and he believed that the problem was in a fair way to solution. Sir Eric Geddes confirmed the appointment of Lord Pirrie as ControllerGeneral of Merchant Shipping, under the First Lord. Lord Pirrie would not be a member of the Board of Admiralty, but he would have direct access to the Premier and the War Cabinet in connection with shipping questions.