Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-21
England Makes Public
Facts On u Boat Toll
for First Time.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF SHIP
SITI ATEGN.

u BRIEF SUMMARY OF SHIP
SITT ALTON.
Seizure of Dutch vessels by
,be United States and Great
i Britain and their use for the
allied purposes. reduce mater
4 a1r the net allied loss due to
cerman submarines and mines
since the beginning of the war.
| British government state
neRt issued at Washington to-
lay gives the gross l0ss up 10
Iai. /. 1918 aS l1,~27,@12 and
the net less as 2.G33. .297 tons.
The Dutch shipping taken over
by the allies aggregates 4 mill
lian tons.
To make mp the deficiency in
world tonnage caused by the
German TuthIessnesS on the
aaS. 6.G0G.975 tons OF new
ships were buiIt in allied and
nentral countries since the be-
ginning Of the war and 2,5s9.-
900 tons Of German and Aus
] irian ships were seized by the
allied countries. The net loss
i rednced further by the Dutch
IeSSe's which generally have
been idle in allied ports in fear
d German submarines.
Washington, March 21.-Secret
H1ras nj the Prf-fsb admiralty an
E5marine losses and world ship
Hiding were made public here to-
3 BY the British embassy. They
EE that from both enemy action
Z marine risk on Jan. l. 1918.
led ami neutral shipping had
ot since the war began Il, 1,S27, ,572
ross tons. while shipyards outside
{ the central powers We're turning
II $685. tons
Made Public for First Time.
These figures. long withheld. are
Is1F made public, an admiralty
.zsm0randum says. as they will not
5nalate the enemy and because
asy will impress upon the people
as necessity of united action in
laking good losses by submarines,
4al them goes an appeal 10 Brit
3 builders to speed up their ef-
-2Hs by bringing more men and
Fomen 10 work on the task, and
Farning that the recent falling of
British production must not con-
t1ue.
u spite Of the tremendous total
losses, they do not approach the
,aims Of the Germans and with
.5ss000 tons Of enemy ships added
g ne output or the war period, the
II loss 10 world shipping, eXclu-
aTe Of that OF Germany and her
lles, is only 2.632. .297.
Big Losses in 1917.
The maximum of losses was
eaehed in the second quarter OF
SO, after the unrestricted sub
-arine warfare drew the United
ans into the struggle was
-aached That quarter ,2,236,934
JOSS tons of ships went down.
nee then the total has been re
.eed until in the fourth quarter of
-'ii Il was I,252.S43- In the mean
-2s the shipbuIIdiug output stead
curved upward IN the last
i-aFler Of 1917 it was 932,023 tons,
q a that time the enormously in
sased facilities of the United
ztas had NOT begun TO get into
t-boat Menace in Hand.
4'hough warning against undue
.1aism. the admiralty statement
Ihe results or the past year
~ Shown The ability Of our sea
i 70 get upon terms with the
-sliafine meus g and gradually TO
= the upper hand This result
peen achieved iu spite Of an
-ssfieet knowledge Of a new and
s@fous method Of warfare and
: scarcity of suitable material.
material resources for this
-,are are already improved and
Osing rapidly augmented. while
- Is placing at our disposal
- OF offerse and defense Of
- We have been in need. SUBJ
" his technical advice and TO
s.ssfhlng that undue optimism IS
NE admiralty considers that
'4e's with regard 20 tonnage
- speak for themselves"
Hollands Ships Seized.
@a Hollands refusal. I'm the
- ., German threats. 10 put into
s,,...aer aer voluntary ,-greement for
Zig her merchant marine 10
ryal activity. the United States
- ,aAinent has requis.tioned all
i. ships in American waters.
- same time Great Britain has
over Dutch vessels IN Brit
az "a Of II ships. Of probably
- ions, was added 10 the
es'ean er..saa,n merchant marine by the
es-s.tioning. Another 400, 900
ere put into the allied service
IN sst -. bTitain's action. Most Of
\. vi be used in food carrying
|ss eel~een the United States