Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-06
FOR WHoLE-HEARTEBs WORK IN
 PROSECUTION oF WAR
FOR OFFICERS AND MEN
Sir Eric Geddes First Lord of the Ad-
 mirality, States That Toll of u-
 Boats is Growing Less, While They Are Being Destroyed in increasing Numbers.

 natural, Sir Eric Geddes declared to- day, that eo-opefation between Great Britain and the United States should he extremely close. On behalf of him- self and his colleagues he wished pub licly to pay tribute to the whole heart cd devotion to prosecution of the war which governed the action of every representative of the United States navy with which they came into con- tact. The personnel of all ranks, ne said, had the respect and esteem of the officers of the British navy.
 No Lack of. Material for Ships.
 Concerning shfpbuilding, he said there was no lack of materials at the I present time. and that there were more men in the yards, but the output reached only 5S 900 tons in Janulsy, although it should have been much larger. It was true the weather was exceptionally bad and also that Jam Eary. owing to the holidays. always 1 was a bad month for the output of ships. One week or one month could not be taken by itself He expressed the opinion that February would be shown to have made nearly twice as good a record as January. although I only about two-thirds of what the same yards had done previously with fewer men. Meeting U-boat Warfare.
 Submarines were being destroyed in i increasing numbers; he continued and as the methods, employed against them were developed the numbers would be ienlarged still further. There was q growing reluctance ol the part of the I German crews b put to sea The chances that submarine would re- | turn from a voyage in the waters ' around England were one in four ol enc in five.
 The loss for the five months ended with February was 10 per cent, les: than the loss during the correspond !, ing months of the year previous. h. added although during four months 0 the latter period unrestricted subma
 Tine war had nots been proclaimed D. the enemy.
 Shipping Losses Growing Less. q have stated the first lord con ! tinued, that the curve of losses o
 merchant shipping continues down
 ward. That statement is as true to iday as when previously made. It i ,, true there -haEc been bad weeks an, bad months February was, iii com parison with recent standards, a ba :, month. But on the other hand, Jan l uary was a good one
 ,. "As to the curve of the loss in tn ! worlds tonnage. only two months c { the. current quarter have elapsed bu [ assuming the March loss to be as hig [ las that of February. find that til s falling curve continues
 : Decrease in Ship Production. Regarding the rate of ship produc }, tion Sir Erie said that instead of z rise there had been a serious drop Why" the. first lord asked. 9Th main fact is. that owing to labor UT rest and strike difficulties the men Il the yards are not working as if tf : life of the country depended on the lexertions. The employers are peFbal : mot doing all they could. The Ion j. strain of the war must have an efet upon their nerves as upon everyone k else The serious unrest which cxist ' ed in January will have an effect c
 compilations in later months al k driven to the conclusion that even : this late date the situation is not full
 reaized.''s