New-York tribune., 1918-03-22
Admiralty Makes Pub
lie Secret Figures on
Allied and Neu-
trail Losses
Falling OFF in
British Output
1nformation Is Given to
Sneed Construction
and Place Blame
for Failure

WASHINGTON, March 21.-Publica-
-, to-day of the longheld secret OF
..;.1 British Admiralty figures showing
..sctlv the total of submarine losses
N 10 January /. and that despite anti
..hrar;ne measures the undersea
.oats are destroying ships twice as
t,s. as the world shipyards are build
INC them. promises to be the forerun-
ner of some further official pronounce
rsnts which will bring home to Amer
+. more strikingly than ever before
The need of the bridge OF ships to
France.
The British official figures published
so unexpectedly here to-day, when
every one thought they would indeh-
nitely be withheld because of the sup
nosedy valued information they might
give the Germans, were not without
their note of comfort despite the ring
i5g warning they gave OF the need OF
rushing ishipbuilding.
While they snow l1,S27,512 tons OF
Allied ald neutral ships destroyed
since submarine warfare began and
only 6,60s,.75 tons OF ships built to take
their places, they show that the rate OF
submarine destruction steadily has de-
creased from the heights 1t reached
wnsn early IL 1871. Germany announced
new and unreS trIcted campaign OIL
ruthiessness ana forced the United
States into Cae war.
Chairman Hurley OF the Snlppln%
Board possibly may make q statement,
bu, il Is certain IN speech he Is to
deliver IN New York Tuesday ne VIII
give some facts which, taken IN con-
nection with the recent declarations of
sir Erie Geddes. First Lord OF the Brit
isn Admiralty and the official figures
published here to-day by the British
knbassy. Will show the present snip
construction situation as clearly as the
British have shown the rate OF de-
s.ructIon.
Public to know What 1t Faces
0fcials here regard the new British
policy as d frank .aylng OF ali the cards
on the table, so tnat the public may
know exactly what 1t has to face and
might place the blame for any failure
IN the shipping programme. Ine show
ing was not reassulng, but there was
no pessimistic ptterance which might
os interpreted Us an expectation that
the UboaC campaign would not be de-
:eated.
Labor troubles in England, accord
ing to confidential advlces, have caused
serious delays in production. While
me vast majority of American work
men have rallied 10 the support of the
lighting forces, their English fellows
abroad admittedly have lessened their
Efforts as their pay increased. The re-
sui. was bare 58. 900 tons Of shipping
Produced III England in January and
$4,000 tons IN February. both months
ar snort Of the amount necessary #
ine programme of .800.o00 tons this
year = TO be carried out.
America has only beeun to build
ships. Mr. Hurleys speech in New
iors viii be one OF the most important
revelations of war progress made by
anF branch of the government, as it is
understood he purposes TO tell the
country exactly what is being done and
now the United States has built more
steel snip ways than all the English
yards put together. The wooden yards
aiso are adding substantially to the
merchant marine.
The figures. long withheld, are now
made public, an Admiralty memoran-
cum says, because to-day they will not
simulate the enemy and because they
viii Impress upon the people the neces-
sity q united action in making good
losses hy submarines. With them goes
an appeal 70 british builders TO speed
ap their efforts BY bringing more men
aho women to work on the task, and
asning that the recent falling off in
0iltish production must not continue
IN spite o. the tremendous total OF
i,'ees they do not approach the claims
tne Gerrnans, and with 2,o39 900 tons
of enemy ships added TO the output OF
ne war period the net loss to world
salpplng. exclusive of that Of Germany
she ner allies, is only 2.632,291.
Maximum of Losses
me maximum Of lcsees was reache ed
.n The aecond quarter Of 1917 after the
SSHfsslricted submarine warfare which
usFF the United States into the strug-
sss ss was launched. That quarter 2,236,-
e. ees gross tons Of ships went down
slnee then the total has been reduced
."h IN the fourth quarter Of 1917
vas i,z72S43. In the meantime, the
..npoui4cing output steadily curved up
arc. In the last quarter Of 1917 it
as 1>Z.0Z1 tons, and At that time tine
,..olnous}y increazcd facilities Of the
nsaed states had not begun to get
mo acton.
nFnouln warning against anduc op-
"..am, ..,a, the Admiralty statement says
Inc rcaoits Of the past year have
-p"h me ability of our scannn to get
.y2h terms with the submarine menace
s'a gradually 10 gain the upper hand"
~ announcing in the Houxe Of Com
mons yesterday that hereafter figures
,osses and building you'd be made
rpniie ~ regular jrteryafa. Sir Er,e
d.ss' irst Lord of the Admiralty. in
a'ea,ed that it still would be unwise
p'plihn the totals for the war. ffoy-
MN; t; snese totals pow are given to the
pueiie, simoltaneously in thiz country
H'n ~ n Great Britain.
fapdnm. '' ny "'e'"''
Msmorandnm issued by the British
Iasa.s',J showing in gross tons tht
9es se.;e 70 the world shipping by enemy
,ss,n tns mercantile shipbuildipq
ahd the enemy vcssels captsfrcc
a brought into seryice,
Snres VIII Not Stimulate Enemy
az n',nsrto the Board of Admirsit,
~. zen - syerse from my publication
sxka snan that contained in the week
i nssts ALL e. ol iossss. although IL mas frc-
pesH pressed upon them that
sepnAEe facts should be made