The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-06
First Lord of Admiralty Admits Shipbuilding in
 America Is Slow
MANY SUBMARINES ARE BEING SUNK
Says Present Destruction Is About Equal to New Construction. General Situation Is
 Improving

London, March 5.--"Our allies nre making every effort to increase their production of ships." Sir Erie Geddcs, first lord of the admiralty. said to- day, "but despite glowing reports i'm the American press and great as the effort of that country doubtless Is, there is no doubt n considerable time must elapse before the desired output k obtained.-
 Sir Eric, whose address was deliv- cred with vim in the House of Com mons, said the naval forces of the al- Hes in European waters would be aug mented shortly by force of Brazilian warships.
 For some months" said Sir Eric. i've believe that we and the Ameri- cans have been sinking submarines as fast as they are built"
 GERMANS EXAGGERATE
 Sir Eric said the rate of exaggera- tion in the German reports of tonnage said to have been sunk was increasing steadily. The exaggeration in the sec ond quarter of the period of unre- stricted submarine warfare was twice
 
 in the third and fourth quarters were three and four times that of the first quarter and in January four and halt times the first quarter
 The first lord said he was seriously concerned at the increasing number of vessels lost at night. It appeared the enemy was assisted in this mattef by negligence on the part of the ship- owners who displayed lights instead of darkening their vessels. ,eak
 In the waters around the Brirlsh Isles. which had been the enemy's chief field for submarine operations. the greatest successes against the IT, boats had been obtained so far lately with the help of American naval forces, said Sir Eric. On the other hand, con- ditions in the Mediterranean had been more difficult. Losses there accounted for some 30 per cent of merchant ships sunk. The resources for combating the submarines in those waters were less adequate. and the successes ob- tained less satisfactory.
 TREND IMPROVING
 The trend of the figures of loss of shipping by enemy action was steadily improving. Sir Eric stated. The loss to the worlds tonnage during Febru- ary was little more than half the loss during February of last year, he said.
 It became Increasingly evident. the first lord went on, that as the resources for combating the submarines inn proved 1t would be possible to turn att tention more to the Mediterranean He continued:
 T recently went to Rome for meet ing of the allies naval committee. and also Inspected naavl establishments in the Mediterranean. including those of the Greek navy. British naval off cers are assisting the Greeks in reor- ganization of their navy, which all ready is cooperating in the Mediter- ranean and rendering valuable serv- ice." fy
 AS TO SHIPBUILDING
 Concerning shipbuilding. he said there was no lack of materials at the present time and that there were more men in the yards. but the output reached only 5s.0O0 tons in Janaury. although 1t should have been much larger. It was true the weather was exceptional. and also January, owing to the holidays. always was 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 only
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