New-York tribune., 1918-03-22

4 "Oulu encourage lne enemy ana WOulu
stimulate his energies in dangerous
direction they have not been able tc
concur in the proposal
The figures to-day will not stimu-
late the enemy, and the Admiralty rec
/ cgnize that the policy of silence, neces-
Sary as they believe it 10 have been
from naval point of view. has hao
this serious defect: that it fails suffi-
GENTLY to impress upon the people OF
this country the vital necessity of in
dividua, and united effort on their part
to make good the losses caused by en-
emy submarines.
IN the spring of 1917 the full men
ace of the submarine campaign was
first disclosed. Since that time we have
steadily increased our knowledge and
our material resources for this move
warfare.
"Three statements are attached
| showing for the United Kingdom and
for the world
"1-Losses by enemy action and ma
! rine risk.
! '2-Mercantle shipbuilding output.
'3-Enemy vessels captured anc
! brought into service.
Only Facts Are Recorded
The situation should pc viewed from
{
/ as in these problems the mercantile
navies of the whole world, excluding
the enemy. may be regarded as one II
VIII be noticed that the diagrams re-
/ cord facts and that nothing has been
included in the nature of an estimate.
It would not be correct to assume that
! the losses by submarine will continue
! to decrease or that the production of
merchant vessels will continue to in
crease in the same rate Of progress as
/ is shown in the last few quarters, al
/ though a rapid and continuous increase
! in the output of merchant tonnage Will
inevitably follow the united efforts of
all engaged in merchant shipbuilding in
/ this country.
"On the subject Of losses the Admi-
ralty dlsclaim any desire to prophesy
about so uncertain q thing as war
IL it's submarine phase. The results
! of the past year have shown the abil-
ity of our seamen TO get upon terms
with the submarine menace and grad
ually TO gain the upper hand. This
result has been achieved in spite Of
an imperfect knowledge of a new and
barbarous method of warfare and of
q scarcity of suitable material.
"Our material resources for this
warfare are already improved and be
ing rapidly augmented, while science
is placn., at our disposal means OF
offence and defence Of which we have
been in need. Subject to this technical
advice and to warning that undue
optimism is fatal, the Admiralty con
slider that the facts with regard to
tonnage losses speak for themselves.
Improvement Is Needed
"With regard to the other factor
the production of merchant tonnage
any estimate for the future must de
pend wholly on the determination OF
employers and men in the shipyards
and marine engineering establish
ments. The production, however. OF
merchant ships in the United King
dom during January, 1918, even max
ing the most generous allowance fol
weather conditions. fell so far below
that Of each month in the preceding
quarter that # improvement is not
i speedily made the point where pro
duction balances losses will be post
poned to 4 dangerous extent, and even
when that point is reached we shall
still have to make good the losses OF
the past during the critical perioc
that con7ronts US.
"We must rely in the main on on,
shipyards and on ourselves. Our part
ners in the war are making every
effort to Increase their production ot
ships, but a considerable time mus,
elapse before the desired output is
secured; to produce IN the United
Kingdom 100000 tons in 1918 aud tc
reach an ultimate production at the
rate Of 100000 per annum is vel
within the present and prospective
capacity Of our shipyards ard marine
engineering shop; but the ranks ot
the skilled men must be enlarged with
out delay by he introduction Of mer
and women at present unskilled.
"Thc introduction of these new
comcrs, up grading and interchang,
ability of work, are essential and mus
be pressed in with the good will O
the Board of Admiralty wish to max
i perfectly clear that these result
cannot be obtained unleGs maximum
output is continuously given in ever.
shipyard and marine engine shop b.
every one concerned. If employers hcsi
tate to play their part, if men any
where down tools 80 slow for an.
reason, they will do so in fuil know
edge Of the grievous extent to which
] they are preJudcing the vital interests
Of the community.
Vigorous Cooperation Is Sought
at is TO inquire the vigorous coop
Grafton Of all concerned tndi tbe ad
miralty have recommended the publica
tion Of the facts"
The Admiralty's tables follow:
Losses by enemy action ard marin
risk Nin gross tons) for the period, tn
United Kingdom, foreign and the tota
for. world, show respectively:
1914: August and Septembc, ~3f4 OOC
s5.347, 399.947. Fourth quartcr-154,
ToQ JoC G4Q pQl AtG
1915: Fir7. quarter 2l5 ooo. 104 ,541
320,447 Second quartcr-251 7G. 56,
743, @s0,l19. Third quarter 356, ,65s
i72,322, 523 ,1sl Fourth qua.tcr-307,
1919, 1s7, ,231, h1A ,373.
1915: First quarter 525.2@7. 1913 a5s
524, ,l95. Second quarter 27o,G00. 25l
$50, b22 ,2a0. Third quarter 28d35s
307 ,g81. 5S2, ,033. Fourth quarter, 6l7,
Dg3, 54I ,78O, 1,1b9,a13.
1917: First quarter 81 $40, TOT ,b3a
1,gi9.373. Second quarter - ,36l ,sn
s75 ,0s4, 1886 1874. Third qucrter 952,
9as, 541 ,535, 1,l34,473. Fourth quarter
7s2, ,ssa, As93b4, 1.z72,s43 Totals 7,
ora, ,Aa2. 1.7aa, ,0a0, u ,s27,572.
Note Figures for grosg tonnage OF
worlds tonnage for August and Sep
tsmbcr, 1914, includes 1929 gross
tons intcrncd in enemy ports
The mercantile shipbuilding outpu
/ lin gross ton8) for the period. that o
the United Kingdom, the foreign ant