Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-20
German U-Boat Warfare Runs
Way Ahead of Replace
ment by the Allies.
DESTRUCTION AVERAGES
100000 TONS MONTH
Chairman Denman's Statement Said
to Agree Closely With Govern
mental Figures.

Figures row In the possession Of the
government based upon the best infor-
nation within reach Of the entente al
lied governments make It appear that
since the beginning Of the German sub
marine warfare the destruction Of allied
merchant ships, together with merchant
ships Of neutral ownership or flag which
may be regarded as available for en-
tente commerce, has been at least four
times the amount Of tonnage which the
shipbuilders have been able to add to
the mercantile fleet by way Of replace
ment.
Chairman Denman's statement yes
terday that the losses caused by sub
marines were averaging about 1000 900
tons dead weight" monthly agree
more closely with these governmental
some of the newspapers. The term
dead weight" means the exact weight
OF the cargo. whereas the weekly state
ments from London of shipping de-
stroyed by submarines are based upon
registered tonnage, which is caIcu-
lated on the basis Of 100 cubic feet Of
? cargo space per ton. In fact. the
> actual carrying capacity, or dead
weight" is considerably more than the
registered tonnage.
To Increase Replacement.
The execution Of the shipping boards
plans for new construction, both wood and
under construction on private account, Of
course, will increase considerably the pro-
portionate replacement of the ships lost
through submarine operations. but 1t Is
Nynt - .l1k
nation or nations will profit by the work
ing out Of the American program.
1t is for the State Department to de-
termine. for instance. the extent to
now under construction in this country
shall proceed. at least SO far as that
Communicating" might involve vessels
being built on foreign account At no
government claimed or exercised any
right to seize. even upon full payment
therefore, any OF the large number Of
ships which have been Constructed In
British yards for the allied governments
or citizens of her allies On the con-
trary Britain has directed British ship
yards to hasten the construction of such
vessels as much as possible.
Demands Right to Use Vessels.
Even in the case Of vessels building
in British yards for neutral ownership.
the British government has not seized
such vessels. but has limited its inter-
ference to the requirement that the new
ships be chartered for the period not
exceeding the length Of the war. the
ownership remaining ipSneutral hands.
Consequently 1t may be assumed that
the State Department will be under the
necessity of negotiating with other
governments before deciding to what
extent the Communicating" Of foreign
owned ships In American yards can
proceed.
II the assertions Of Mr. Denman are
to be accepted as authoritative, despite
the clash OF minds in the shipping. con-
troversy, the government shipping pro-
gram seems to be taking definite shape.
Method at Government Yards.
The proposed government yards. de-
clares Mr. Denman. will be built on
government land and will not be sold
to the constructor; they will be used
merely for the assembly of ships from
parts made to plans. Mr.. Denman still
insists that 100000 tons of wooden
vessels are needed. as well as all the
steel ships that can be built
Communicating ships not construct
Ing In private yards, Mr.. Denman hnds
matter to be worked out with the
state and anticipates an Immediate de-
termination of how to go about 1t. No
excess profits are to be paid for steel
or ship construction.
The statement issued by Mr. Dem
man came at the close of a day de-
voted to two conferences between the
shipping board and Maj. Gen. Goethals,
chairman OF the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration. Further meetings today, 1t
Is expected, will finally shape the ship
ping program and Dro1ress NAV then