On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 28, 28 December 1917, Page 5

On the Sea

ALLIED LOSSES*, Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association London, December 26. The British Admiralty report on the submarine campaign for the week ended December 22 gives the following figures:—Arrivals 2311, sailings 2460, sunk over 1600 tons 11, sunk under 1600 tons 1, unsuccessfully attacked 12. French official sinkings: One over and one under 1600 tons. Italian official sinkings; Three steamers over 1200 tons, one sailer over and two under 100 tons. NON-SINKABLE SHIPS. The American Shipping Board have approved the buildifig of twenty 4000ton non-siukable ships by the french Government in the Fnitod States. By so doing the Washington authorities have waived the rule that no foreign construction should be permitted at this time. The non-sinkahle ship, developed by french experts, is said to have withstood torpedo attack in a. test iu which four shots were fired into the hull, and the only effect was to destroy the cargo immediately surrounding the* point of attack. BAGGED A HUN SUBMARINE

EXCITING INCIDENT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Captain Smith of the £. ami A. Mail Line, claims to have assisted in bagging a submarine in the Mediterranean daring an exciting voyage to Marseilles under convoy. The submarine broke surface on my starboard quarter, he writes. The captain spotted her first and opeud fire, obtaining a hit with hot third or fourth shot. \Ve immediately followed and obtained a hit with our second shot. Immediately afterwards an explosion occurred, and a dense volume of thick black smoke arose from the spot for some minutes, leaving no doubt as to the fate of the submarine. Escorts afterwards picked us up again during the afternoon ,aud we proceeded safely on the voyage. In the hurry of going to the boat stations to stand by two of the Chinese sailors fell overboard. One was afterwards picked up by a destroyer and returned to his ship at Marseilles; but the head of the other was blown off by gunfire from the destroyer, she mistaking same for a periscope.” NAVY LEAGUE. The Navy League has decided that its propagandist effort during the continuance of the war will be devoted to the following objects:— 1. The education of the public opinion of the Empire so that the command of the sea by the British fleet may be regarded as the first consideration of national and Imperial poi-

2. The organisation of public support also for the declared demand of the league: “That the achievement of such supremacy in the ocean of the air, as the navy enjoys on the surface of the sea, should be an essential feature of British national policy.” *3. The prevention of a premature peace which would he disastrous In its consequences to the future peace of the world. In the view of the league, the war must go on until the naval power and military power of Germany are utterly destroyed.

t. Tiie tightening of the blockade of the enemy through the full and unrestricted pressure of our sea power. o. The. demand that the enemy shall render compensation for all merchant shipping destroyed hy submarines and mines in violation of Iho law of nations, by the delivery of German merchant vessels to British shipowners on the basis of ton for ton or equivalent values.

6. The promotion of the teaching of the use of sea power and the outlines of naval history in all the schools of the British Empire, 7. The establishment of a scheme of national sea training for hoys, which will secure at the earliest moment after the war the entire elimination of aliens from the British merchant service. This programme of activity will be maintained with all the resources at the disposal of the league during the! period of the war