Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-01
WARFARE
SINKS So SHIPS
OF U. S. IN YEAR

New York, Jan. S0-In the II
months of unrestricted warfare
launched against American and allied
shipping by Germany one year ago
Friday, there have been sunk by sub
marines, mines, and raiders SO
American vessels. totaling Ill, 061
gross tons, according to a careful
compilation of records of sinkings
which have been made public in the
period.
Offsetting this loss of American
vessels, most of which were sailing
ships, the United States since Feb.
has added to her merchant marine
by the seizure of former German and
Austrian owned ships a total Of LOT
vessels having a gross tonnage of
6S6,494, leaving on the credit side
of the American ledger in the &C
count with the Central powers a net
gain of 515, 435 gross tons. The loss
of life caused by the sinking of. the
SO American ships was more than
800 persons, however.
The percentage of sinkings of
American ships compared with the
number of vessels which have sailed
through the war zone SUCCESSFULLY is
small. Records of the Department
of Commerce show that for the period
beginning Feb. /. 1917, and ended
Dec 1, there were cleared from
American ports in the foreign trade
ships aggregating 17,738,900 tons
net, or approximately 24,834, 400
gross tons. The number of ships
making up the total of tons was not
made public by the department.
426 Vessels Requisitioned
Further offsetting the loss of ton
mage occasioned by the submarine
warfare the United States through the
Shipping Board requisitioned in
American ship yards 426 vessels to-
falling more than 100000 gross tons,
and contracts have been awarded for
| 1874 ships, a large number of which
are now under way and are being
rushed to completion. In addition,
the Shipping Board on Oct. Is last
| placed under government requisition
! 393 American vessels Of more than
| $500 tons lightweight capacity, which
were af1oat and Immediately assigned
them to the task of carrying supplies
for the Allies and the American
| forces abroad.
| Included in these requisitioned YES
sells were 81 ships in Great Lakes
trade and in addition there were COM
Wandered "a steamers building on
the lakes for foreign account and
ready for launching. Virtually all of
these were brought to Atlantic coast
ports and Immediately put into ser
| vice. Almost one-half of them had
! to be cut in two to get them through
the Welland Canal, but the task was
in less than three months from the
time the contract was awarded.
Another difficulty which faced the
United States in the task of putting
to sea vessels to offset the ravages of
the U-boats was the repairing of the
'willful damage" done to the former
/ German ships by their officers and
crews before the ships were seized.
1 This cost millions of dollars, and in
many instances called for the highest
engineering to make and replace
parts Of foreign-built engines and
boilers removed or broken.
Indicating that the task has been
attended by success, the statement
was made yesterday by a prominent
official connected with the Shipping
Board that every seized vessel was
now completely repaired and in ser
vice. Many of them have made
three and four round trips through
the war zone.
Former German Ships Attacked.
Three of the former German YES
sells have been the objects of success
full attack by the submarines. The
Actaeon, formerly the Adamsturm,
and the Owasco, formerly the Ale
MAMMA, were sunk and the Armenia
was hit by torpedo, but was saved
after being beached. Several other
former German ships have been at
tackled, but escaped.
The announced sinkings of British
ships for the year up to and including
the week ended Jan. % have beer
1893 vessels, of which 1853 were Of
more than 1000 tons. and 270 were
under that figure. The joint 1osse!
of France and Italy have averaged
, three to four large vessels weekly.