Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-21
MILLION TONS ARE
TAKEN OVER BY THE }.
BRITISH AND U. S.
6,606, ,275 Tons Of New Ships
Are Constructed to Off
set Deficiency.
UNITED STATES
TAXES ~ SHIPS

Proclamation Issued on Hol
lands Refusal to put into
Effect Agreement.
Seizure>of Dutch vessels by
the United States and Great
Britain and their use for all
lied purposes reduce lnateri-&
ally the net allied loss due
to German submarines and
mines since the beginning of
the war. A British govern
ment' statement issued at
Washington gives the gross
loss up to January /, 1918,
at 1l,S27,5T2 and the net loss
as 2,632,297 tons. The Dutch
=, shipping taken over by the
allies aggregates 1,000,000s
tons.
To make up the deficiency
in world tonnage caused by
German ruthlessness on the
seas, 6,6O6.275 tons of new
ships were bull; in allied and
neutral countries since the
beginning Of the war and q
$4,000 tons of German and
Austrian ships were, seized
;bySa1lied countries. The net
-., :llepsssis reduced further BY the
Dutch vesselsswhich general
lysEl,ave. been idle il, allied
ports for fear Of German
submarines. Losses during
the last twelve months have
been announced in the Brit
ish house of commons by
Sir Eric Geddes, first lord Of.
the admiralty as having been
100000 tons.
British losses >last week
were seventeen vessels, in
cluding, eleven Of 1000 tons
or over, a decrease from the
previous week when eighteen
ships were sunk. III the pre-
vious week, however; fifteen
) of the vessels were Of more
than 1000 tons.
Owners Of the seized ships
will derive revenue from
their use. Holland also will.
be allowed to obtain food
.stuffs from abroad for her
population and her colonial
trade will be. protected.
The coo. 900, tons of Dutch ship
ping seized in American ports
last night on orders from Presi-
dent Wilson will lle put into scrv-
ice. 1t was said today. as soon as
they can be made ready for sea
i and cprgoes arc loaded. The vee-
seia will be armed BY the navy
: department.. II a h Il 4,
Most 81 the vessels will 20 into
tho transatlantic sefvice, trans
II porting food to the alliAe. Some
= untitled for cargo work may be
used as transports.
Reports to the navy depart
+ ntenf. Secretary: Daniels said to-
day. showed that the taking over
of the ships proceeded according
to schedule and without the
slightest hitch. ,s
lres of the British admiralty on 81,
ing were made public here today
the British embassy. They show Il,
from both enemy action and, mari
risk on January /. s191a. ALLIED ai
nUetral shipping had lost since t
war began l1, ,S27,672 gross toI
while shipyardsY oltefde5 OF the ce
trail powers were turning out $50
275 tons. 4; !" Sts I -,t53 "
. These figures are now made publ
an admiralty nTemoF8nd unls says, b
cause they will not stimulate the q
emy and because they will inaprl
upon the people the necessity OF ,uI
ted action In making, good losses i
" M Il n Il .tss n Il
n spite OF, the trem snd Gus tot
OF losses. they do not approach st
claims of the Germans and with
hB9, 900 tons Of enemy ships added,
the output Of the war period. the 81
loss TO world shipping exclusive
that of Germany and 4 her allies,
only 2.632,297. s., s 3s3 s5s