Record of Three Years

The British Board of Admiralty, with the sanction of the War Cabinet and the concurrence of the Allies, on March 21 published a memorandum revealing the world's total shipping losses from the beginning of the war to Jan. 1, 1918. The essential portions are as follows:

In the Spring of 1917 the full menace of the submarine campaign was first disclosed. Since that date we have steadily increased our knowledge and our material resources for this novel warfare. Three statements are attached, showing for the United Kingdom and for the world, for the period August, 1914, to December, 1917:

1. Losses by enemy action and marine risk.

2. Mercantile shipbuilding output.

3. Enemy vessels captured and brought into service.

Diagrams showing in graphic form the losses and shipbuilding output for the United Kingdom and for the world are also attached. The situation should be viewed from the standpoint of the world's tonnage, as in these problems the mercantile navies of the whole world, excluding the enemy, may be regarded as one. It will be noticed that the diagrams record facts, and that nothing has been included in the nature of an estimate.

The results of the last year have shown the ability of our seamen to get upon terms with the submarine menace and gradually to gain the upper hand. This has been achieved in spite of an imperfect knowledge of a new and barbarous method of warfare and of a scarcity of suitable material. Our material resources for this warfare are already improved and are being rapidly augmented, while science is placing at our disposal means of offense and defense of which we have been in need.

With regard to the other factor, a rapid and continuous increase in the output of merchant tonnage will inevitably follow the united efforts of all engaged in merchant shipbuilding in this country. * * * During the critical period that confronts us we must rely to a large extent on our own shipyards and on ourselves. Our partners in the war are making every effort to increase their production of ships, but a considerable time must elapse before the desired output is secured.

To produce in the United Kingdom 1,800,000 tons in 1918, and to reach an ultimate production at the rate of 3,000,000 tons per annum, is well within the present and prospective capacity of our shipyards and our marine engineering shops. But the ranks of the skilled men must be enlarged without delay by the introduction of men and women at present unskilled. The education of these newcomers, upgrading, and interchangeability of work are essential, and must be pressed on with the good-will of employers, foremen, and men.

It is to insure the vigorous co-operation of all concerned that the Admiralty has recommended the publication of the facts.

POSITION AT THE END OF 1917

The following table summarizes the position at the end of 1917:

British.Foreign.World.
Losses7,079,492 4,748,080 11,827,572
Gains:
New construction3,031,5553,574,7206,606,275
Enemy tonnage captured 780,0001,809,0002,589,000
————————————
Total gains3,811,5555,383,7209,195,275
Net loss (world) 2,632,297

RECORD OF THREE YEARS

The following statement shows United Kingdom and world's merchant tonnage lost through enemy action and marine risks since the outbreak of war:

United Total for
Period.Kingdom.Foreign.World.
GrossGrossGross
1914Tons.Tons.Tons.
August and September314,00085,947*399,947
4th Quarter154,728126,688281,416
1915.
1st Quarter215,905104,542320,447
2d Quarter223,676156,743380,419
3d Quarter356,659172,822529,481
4th Quarter307,139187,234494,373
1916.
1st Quarter325,237198,958524,195
2d Quarter270,690251,599522,289
3d Quarter284,358307,681592,939
4th Quarter617,563541,7801,159,343
1917.
1st Quarter911,840707,5331,619,373
2d Quarter1,361,870875,0642,236,934
3d Quarter952,938541,5351,494,473
4th Quarter782,889489,9541,272,843
———————————
Totals 7,079,492 4,748,080 11,827,572
* This figure includes 182,839 gross tonnage interned in enemy ports.

The next statement shows output of merchant shipbuilding of the United Kingdom and the world (excluding enemy countries) since the outbreak of war:

United Total for
Period.Kingdom.Foreign.World.
GrossGrossGross
1914Tons.Tons.Tons.
August and September 253,290}
4th Quarter422,320}337,3101,012,920
1915.
1st Quarter266,267}
2d Quarter146,870}
3d Quarter145,070}551,0811,202,000
4th Quarter92,712}
1916.
1st Quarter95,566}
2d Quarter107,693}
3d Quarter124,961}1,146,4481,688,000
4th Quarter213,332}
1917.
1st Quarter246,239282,200528,439
2d Quarter249,331377,109626,440
3d Quarter248,283368,170616,453
4th Quarter419,621512,402932,023
————————————
Total3,031,555 3,574,720 6,606,275

ENEMY TONNAGE CAPTURED

A further statement shows the enemy tonnage captured and brought into service by United Kingdom and by Allies since the outbreak of war:

United Total for
Period.Kingdom.Foreign.World.
GrossGrossGross
1914Tons.Tons.Tons.
August and September 725,500453,0001,178,500
4th Quarter28,0005,00038,000
1915.
1st Quarter5,0001,0006,000
2d Quarter5005001,000
3d Quarter3,5006,0009,500
4th Quarter2,500 2,500
1916.
1st Quarter 241,000241,000
2d Quarter3,5008,00011,500
3d Quarter 47,50047,500
4th Quarter
1917.
1st Quarter ...
2d Quarter7,000702,500709,500
3d Quarter4,500266,500271,000
4th Quarter 78,00078,000
———————————
Total780,000 1,809,000 2,589,000


The Month's Submarine Record

British merchant ships sunk during the month ended April 7, 1918, were fewer than in the preceding month, the weekly official reports showing a sharp increase followed by an unusually low record, resulting in a considerably decreased total. The British Admiralty figures were:

OverUnderFishing
1600 Tons. 1600 Tons. Vessels.
Week ended March 17, 1918 1162
Week ended March 2416121
Week ended March 31675
Week ended April 7422
———
Total for four weeks372710
———
Total previous 4 weeks53169

One of the largest vessels sunk was the British steamship Minnetonka, 13,528 gross tons, formerly in the New York-London service of the Atlantic Transport Line. This happened in the Mediterranean in February, 1918, while the Minnetonka was in the service of the British Admiralty. The Minnetonka was the last of the four passenger ships of the line, aggregating 55,099 gross tons, to remain afloat. The others all have been sunk since the war began. The three others were the Minneapolis, sunk March 22, 1916; Minnehaha, sunk Sept. 7, 1917, and the Minnewaska, sunk Nov. 29, 1917.

Incomplete French records show the loss of three vessels of over 1,600 tons and five under 1,600 tons. Italian losses included seven steamships of over 1,500 tons, three sailing vessels of over 100 tons, and fifteen smaller sailing craft.

Official dispatches from Barcelona reported the sinking by German submarines of two Spanish vessels, one in the Mediterranean and the other off the Canary Islands. These reports confirmed the statement that Germany had commenced a blockade of the Spanish coast to prevent the use of Spanish shipping to help the Allies.

A German submarine of the largest seagoing type on April 10 appeared in the port of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, on the west coast of Africa, and bombarded the wireless and cable stations there. The submarine threw scores of shells from her deck guns into the wireless station, causing extensive damage. She had just turned her attention to the cable offices when a steamer was sighted passing the harbor mouth. The submarine left in chase and did not return. Liberia declared war on Germany Aug. 4, 1917.

Some indication of the losses sustained by the German U-boat fleet is contained in the following reports:

Nine members of the crew of a German submarine which was sunk by an American liner on March 10, when two days out from a French port, were taken prisoners. The rest of the crew perished, the Captain committing suicide when he saw that his submarine was doomed.

Under a heavy attack from three German submarines and three German destroyers, a British seaplane persisted in its efforts against another enemy U-boat and succeeded in sinking it before being damaged by the fire of the other enemy warships. Seaplanes also accounted for three other submarines.

A German U-boat while laying mines on the British coast struck one of them and was blown in two. The only survivor was the Captain, who was taken prisoner. The remainder of the crew, numbering seventeen, were drowned in the submarine.

The German submarine, it is stated in the report of the British War Cabinet, has a surface speed up to 18 knots and a submerged speed of 10 to 11 knots. She carries from fifteen to twenty torpedoes; she can travel 100 miles completely submerged; and she can remain under water on the bottom for a period up to forty-eight hours. A submarine attacking with a torpedo only shows about three inches of periscope at intervals, with the result that few ships which are torpedoed ever see the submarine which has carried out the attack. The range of the torpedoes fired by a submarine is anything up to five miles, and the speed of the torpedo is as high as 40 knots.