ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1917, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

COMBBATING SUBMARINES. MENACE HAS REACHED LIMIT. A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. Received Dec. 14, f1.50 p.m. London, Dec. 13. A well-informed authority says that the systematic destruction of submarines has reached such a stage that it nearly counterbalances the German submarine construction, indicating that, as a menace, the submarine has about reached its limit! Although no universal remedy exists for combating submarines, the various means utilised have proved very efficacious, and the growing forces now at the Allies' disposal should, in the near future, not only hold the enemy in check, but repress them, and render any expansion of the campaign' supremely difficult. Notwithstanding this view, there are still strong reasons for the utmost economy in food consumption. There Is a growing increase in new shipping going into commission, and within a few months the enormous shipbuilding in various parts of the world should begin to outweigh the depredations of the enemy. _—___ \ BRITISH OUTPUT AND LOSSES AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. POSITION TERSELY DEFINED. Received Dec. 14, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 13. Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord of the Admiralty, in a naval statement made in the Huose of Commons, said that 2,282,000 tons of shipping had, been launched in 1913, and that the actual tonnage of war vessels on a converted basis, and of merchant vessels completed in 1917, equals the 1913 output. The merchant tonnage completed in October and November would fully "equal the 1913 rate, while all classes of shipping would total eighteen per cent, higher, and future plans prpvided for an increase. Our anti-submarine measures were still being developed, and were' proving steadily more efficacious, but the enemy was still building submarines faster than we were sinking them, and was also sinking ships faster than we were replacing them. IMPORTANCE OF REPAIRING. 50 SHIPS UNDERGOING PROCESS. GREATER OUTPUT OF WARSHIPS. Received Dec. 14,10.40 p.m. London, Dee. 13. Sir Eric Geddes continued: Ship repairing was a far more important question at the present time, because it took less time and material than building new ships. Since June there had been only three torpedoed ships in home waters the salvage of which had beenabandoned, while 50 ships were being repaired at the present moment. Tho Admiralty, in June, assumed the control of repairs, apart from shipbuilding, in the United Kingdom. Fnrther augmentations of the mercantile tonnage were being arranged throughout the Allied world. Our output of war vessels was infinitely greater 1 than before the war. This was necessary, as it must be remembered that armed merchant vessels were not an offensive weapon against submarines, FRENCH LOSSES. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received Dec. 14, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 13. For the week ending 'December 8 the French arrivals were 845, sailings !)87, sinkings one over and none under 1000 tons; unsuccessfully attacked three.