Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-21
SHIP:sLOSSES
Sir GeGdes Appeases the
Demand for Truth
In Simple Statement of Facts He Tells
Just Want the Situation Is Today
German Claim of January Losses
More Than Double Actual Figures

London. March 20.--One of the most
important statements recently made to
the country was the speech delivered
in the House of Commons today by Sir
Eric Campbell GeddeS. first lord of the
admiralty. lie appeased the demand,
which has become general of late, that
the country should be told the exact
amount Of the shipping losses. and he
also announced the appointment of
Great Britain's foremost builder, Lord
lirrie, as controller general Of mer-
chant shpbulding.
Lord Pirrie Will not be a member of
the board Ct the admiralty but he will
have direct access TO the Premier and
the War cabinet. His appointments it
is indicated. will be received with the
greatest satisfaction.
Sir Erics speech was a simple state
ment of facts, with no oratorical SEN
fences, but lie was listened to more at
tentively Than the most eloquent ora
tors in the government
During the last quarter of 1917, said
within 100, 900 tons monthly of making
their losses good, and were then re
placing - per cent of their lost ton
mage.
At the present time. he continued.
AZ shipyaris with 209 berths were en-
gagged on ocean going merchant yes
sells. The silipyard work was complete
~ disorGanized during the first two
wears Of he WAL from various causes,
but nevertheless. there had been an
enormous accomplishment by the ship
building industry. The output for the
last quarter of 1917 was 100000 tons
as against $4,000 tons for the last
quarter Of 1916, while during the last
quarter of 1915 il had been only $4,000
tons.
Great Britain had lost nn the aver
age .60.oo0 tons monthly during the
last quarter Of I9l. and bad built li0, 900
tons monthly, he announced. British
shipping had suffered the most, he
pointed out. bat the British had con-
tributed the greatest naval effort of the
HES aud had sustained the greatest
attack and should not bemoan their
scars.
Sir Eric declared that the German
statement of the allied shipping losses
lur January was an eXagSeration OF
113 per cent.
The head of The admiralty empha-
sized the Importance of the gradual
withdrawal Of men from the army for
the shipyards 50 that the army should
rot he impaired and men might he re-
placed 10y efficient substitutes. The
output Of repair work, continued Sir
Eric had increased in February 1918
as compared with August. 1917 by 50
Ter cent.
The three main factors i'll the build
ing problem said tie speaker were
FIRST, patrol and other craft to destroy
submarines and safeguard ships at
sea: second. salvage and repair work:
third. the building Of new merchant
ships 1t would be simply providing
sheep for the butchers knife to put all
the industries energies into the bulld-
ing of new ships he remarked
The drop III the curve of merchant
tonnage losses was attributed by the
speaker mainly to the efficiency Of the
patrol and anti-Suhmarine craft and TO
the valua BILE convoy work of other yes
sells.
In Il general reply to criticisms, fre-
mtr Lloyd George SAID that shipbuiio-
ing had not been stopped for LACK
Of steel or steel plates The difficulty
had been largely one of labor. Every
man in the home service skilled n
shiphuildins had already been taken
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