New-York tribune., 1917-05-03
More than 100000
Tons a Week Sunk
Existence of Britain
and France Menaced,
Message to States
fRx III. Associated Prr>sl

inroads on the worlds shipplng macs
by German submarines within the last
few weeks have brought 10 American
government officials a full realization
of the disaster that faces the United
States and the Allies If the undersea
warfare is not checked.
Governors and state representatives,
here to-day for a national defence con-
ference, will take home to their people
q message from the government empha-
sizing the menace 10 America and urg-
ing that there must be the fullest CO.
ordination by the states in war prepa-
ration II Germany is to be defeated.
Secretary Lane told the conference
that the great destruction Of ships was
threatening the existence of Great
Britain and France and menacing the
United States.
No one, he said, knew the exact num-
Der of ships lost recently, but esti-
mates put last weeks submarine toll at
4OC 900 tons. Later he explained that
this estimate probably was too high.
Time the Country Awoke
Secretary Lansing in a statement
during the day declared the seriousness
of the submarine situation could not be
exaggerated, and that it was time the
country awoke TO the facts. Reports TO
the State Department give total OF
eighty vessels lost in one week. figures
much higher than any contained in re-
cent British announcements.
The British mission announced that
the rate OF. destruction in recent weeks
had continued unchanged, and that it
showed no alarming increases. All its
members agree the situation is critical.
however, and that the combined ship
building facilities OF the world can
meet the peril only if their output is
increased tremendously.
Announcing the governments pro-
gramme for exercising a more direct
control over the country's shipping and
shipbuilding facilities, Chairman Dem
man of the Shipping Board said esti-
mates had reached the board of 100000
tons of shipping sunk in one week.
Great Increase in Sinkings
The present worlds ship tonnage is
estimated at less than 50,000,000 tons
In 1916 the entire loss in tonnage due
TO war causes was put at a little more
than 100000 tons, or some 10000
tons month. At present the Germans
are sinking considerably more than
that each week.
A bureau Of Navigation report pre-
pared recently estimated the worlss
ship construction in 1915 at slightly
less than 100000 tons. IL the Ger
mans keep up their present rate Of de-
struction, officials admit without hesi-
tation that their campaign threatens to
sweep clean the seas.
1.-The seriousness of the situation is
apparent" said Chairman Denman to-
day. when we consider the present
productivity of world shipyards and
their highest output likely within the
next four months, the entire produc-
ton will not exceed one-ffth Of the
monthly loss at the rate given by Sec
retary Lane. The Shipping Boards fig
ures do not reach that high total, but
they are sufficiently large to make the
situation extremely grave"
Ship Control Programme
The Administration ship control
programme will go 70 Congress this
week in bills giving the President di-
rect power, If needed, 70 take over the
country's ships and shipyards. The
measures also would put into the
Presidents hands the power to con-
troll facilities that compete with ship
building. Their purpose is to give the
Executive authority TO insure an
abundance Of materials for shipbuild
ing. Big building construction could
be suspended under the bills, II neces-
sary, to insure supplies Of steel 70
keep shipyards going.
The bills would give power which the
Administration believes would not have
10 be exercised, officials holding that the
mere existence of the power would be
sufficient. The Shipping Boards aim is
to speed up the country's steel ship
yards on construction of standardized
simplified steel cargo ships, in addition
TO its campaign for building vast feet
of wooden ships.
IEeetHb tuipydtu COubIdctS, Sdlu
Mr.. Denman to-day, "are for slow-time
construction. and many of the ships are
for foreign account. This is strangling
the productivity OF the nations ship
building capacity. II has astounded
the Shipping Board that these contracts
have been placed. many Of them within
the last six weeks, after the Shipping
Board made clear its programme OF
rapid construction, including inferior
wooden ships.
Continued 10 Place Contracts
"As early as the third week in Feb
ruary the board realized the danger to
which the German submarine campaign
exposed the country. Before il planned
wooden ships the board was told steel
yards could not produce further tom
mage than they were turning out, but
some yards have since placed contracts
for slow-time construction at high
prices, many OF the ships for foreign
accounts. The board since has diseov.
cred there are additional facilities for
steel shipbuilding. and is perfectins n
plan for standardizing construction
which will vastly increase the output.
"If the higher estimates Of ship
losses are true, despite all our efforts.