The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-09

merchant ships are now ARMED, and
therefore take the same chances as
warshtps. They are attacked by the
enemy on sight and they fight the en-
envy on sight.
Keep Out of Danger.
Neutral vessels have sought the less
dangerous zones of operation and ply
their trade In waters far from the Ger
man submarine bases, where they may
reasonably be certain to remain un-
molested. To the British merchant feet
Is left the uncomfortable duty of serv-
ing In those waters where submarines
are thickest, where mines are strewn,
where the Germans show the least con-
Germ for humanity, where every hour
and every mile represents the serious
chance Of death and destI uction.
The French ministry of mercantile
marine has issued a statement which
sets forth the condition of the French
merchant fleet It IS stated that the
French merchant marine amounts to
81, 1877 900 tons, of which 100000 tons
has been loaned to France by Great
Britain. Thus it appears that half the
tonnage working for France Is furnish
ed by Great Britain. This is particu-
larly interesting in view Of the we'll
known fact that French shipping has
been dealt with rather tenderly by the
German submarines.
The greatest of French shipping cor
pOratiOns has been particularly fOrtu-
nate in this regard, and a curious eX-
PLANTATION of the fact is current in both
France and England. 1t is that this
corporation represents a large invest
ment by one Of the most powerful and
influential religious orders Of the RO-
man Catholic, and that the Germans
have made 1t a policy not unnecessarily
to give offense in this quarter Second
ly, 1t is a matter Of frequent note that
certain French ships are always per-
mitted to escape, while other vessels
In the same waters are invariably at
tackled.
Almost Cut OFF.
France is now almost as completely
cut off from the privilege Of commerce
with her neighbors by land as is Great
Britain. To put it in the reverse, she
Is almost as dependable on shipping
as England Before the war, accord
ing to the French ministry Of marine
France imported by land 100000
tons annually, while last year her
imports by land amounted to only l.
100000. Inasmuch as the total OF
imports in 1915 was 100000 tons, the
proportion received by land is very
small indeed. Inasmuch as France Is
at present much less capable of liv-
ing within itself than is England, by
reason of the necessity particularly to
import metals and coal, it may fairly
be said that France Is even more de-
pendent upon maintaining her touch
with the sea than Is England.
The French government is co-operat-
ing with England in every possible
way to increase the production Of new
tonnage; but Frances contribution
must necessarily be small compared
to those of England and the United
States.
The French minister of marine said
that Great Britain would shortly have
to recall a part OF the 700 vessels
which she had lent to France British
needs are increasing rapidly. and no
vessel will be recalled from the serv-
ice of an ally unless 1t is agreed be-
tween the two countries that it is
more necessary to England than to the
ally.
The British nation before the war
was importing 100000 tons Of goods
a year, which fell to 100000 tons in
1915 and will be considerably further
reduced this year. Before the war
foodstuffs represented less than Is per
cent of the imports; in 1915 two-thirds
of all imports consisted of foodstuffs
munitions of war and the manufacture
Of war supplies.
RED CROSS NURSE