The sun., 1917-12-14
U-B0AT MENACE
MUST BE OFFSET
BY MORE SHIPS
Appeal for Additional Men
to Build Them Made by
Sir Eric Geddes.
RECENT PROGRESS GOOD
Submarines Destroyed Nearly
as Fast as.Gcrmans Can
Produce Them.
RECENT PROGRESS GOOD

LONDON, Dec. IS.---"A vast extension
Of our shipbuiIdinE facilities is necer-
sary IL we are successfully to counter
the eneny's submarine depredations,"
said SIR Eric Geddes. First Lord OF the
Admiralty. IN the House Of Commons
to-day, In a speech appealing for men
10 meet the requirements Of the Govern
ment's ship repairing aud shipbulding
programme.
After giving figures OF the progress
already made. showing that the con-
struc'ion OF mercha ntmen for this year
would he as great as that OF tho record
year of 1918, and in all classes Of ship
ping Is per cent higher than in 1913,
II the October and November records
were kept UP he said that this pro-
srsmre would be increased greatly next
year. Private yards had been author
'2ed TO increase their accommodation by
forty Ave berths. while the new national
shipyar6s on the Severn would provide
thirty-four berths.
Demands Greater Than Ever.
The demands on our merchs nj ship
ping, continued .he First Lord, "s,e
greater than they have ever been. the
submarine menace is, in my opinion
held. but not vet mastered. oar ship
building is not Yet replacing our losses
] deprecate drawing deductions from the
eNper .ence Of one week or month. he
II good or bad. II Is the general curve
which We must watch.
Il have studied the general curve sine.
November !. when made my first
statement. and the downward trend Of
tho mercantile losses both OF ourselves
and cur allies continues sa.!sfa c;orly.
The upward curve of merchant ship
building mas also continued satisfac-
torily ard will undoubtedly be ,raiu-
tsined. The upward curve OF the de-
struction Of enemy submarines has con-
t.nued equally satisfactorily. and have
no reason 20 doubt that :aose curves
will continue gradually 20 improve
But | reiterate thai a good or a bad
month of s.rkines. either OF merchant
men or submarines, ought no. to be
taken B.! Itself. Casualties in ships will
nuctuats Just a. casualties In man power
huctuate in Land war and It is only by
taking the general trend OF success or
'oss tina, true picture can be oh
tslned
Eron"my and Effort Needed.
~ 'h~ country will only ecouon.,.
and limit consumption 50 as TO restr'c,
ide Use of tonnage ard set the SHIPS
Tree faE n,o." urgent use In connection
Win III" military nec sssi!os ard tho
"a:n;enarce OF the civil p3nulations OF
ourselves and cur allies. If. follow uy
the tradition Of our ra e. we put forth
al our power ana relax no effort 10 de-
feat the submarine then the war can
only end IN victory But We mus; have
ships. more ships and still NOR. shlps
ana now ! vau' m.a TO bui,d ahenl.
our plans are lad. We have s,t the
steal ard want the rlen. Unless | have
entirely ris;akeu the spirit of the coun-
t"y We Will have Response which vlll
demonstrate to Tie world that our grip
lighters as tAe great s;rusg,e con-
times
since June. said Sir Eric. there
nave been only three torpedoed ships i'm
nome waters the salvage of which had
nsen bandon"l. and only one ship VIII .ch
I has been decided not to rcpai, for IN.
present. In June - per cent. OF the
total salred tonnage on hand was under
repair, While 'o-Ga, \" per cent. Is un.
dergoins the repairing process Since
August the output of ships repaired in
d'y DOCK inc eased IS per cent and re-
pairs ailoat h? - pe' cent.
ne t1isi Lord described three new
national Shipyards which are being butr,
on the ,i'er severn The first keols. he
said VIII lie laid there during the early
part ~ ths yea or more highly stand
'rHeu 'h'p 'H"h heretofore has been M
VIC '""en, y ere'' G""i or the stoe,
"'r WI ~ "''e ~ oricse Yards and 4.
'o''S'"H'ap!c pa'' or the labo: viii hsS
lcrio,'neG ,,, oE prisoners or war and un-
'".In"n heIp'
HhtnS' ADDED Si' Ere. We're
", 'he severn because Of the
'"G'".fS ,ne'e ''r the more comfor.ab ble
~ ~ "e''''s' housing o' the worNneu
ne 'os. OF IN" new yards, he stated.
VIZ Si'''"''"po
!" w" year ISIS continued Sir Er.c.
r'""' -. f"'h 'auhchsh -,2S2.OOo tons Of
SUI, u "n'ch ',H.o'ooo tons was mer-
'oiHas'' lhat' sad the Firs'
l-o'u' was 'he hshesi output ever
'Srneu' ,,
"e' we Nsso''a eu 'r"ss inquired o'
u 81 '"'" ""'ho''! 'o-daN /! the ami
Suo''"''.e wa We're gong well, and
"I'"' "'s 'ne reason 'of me high ra;e ~
slN""eS ~ me 'as' tn'ee weeks, the an
'"'l ""H