Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-31
So j. S. VESSELS
SUNK DURING YEAR
l71,O61 Tons Destroyed in IL
Months of Unrestricted
Warfare.
300 LIVES ARE LOST.
Ds6,4O4 German Tonnage seised, 2.0OO.-
600 Tons Requisitioned and ss4 New
Ships Ordered By Way Of Onset.

New York, Jan. 29.-In the IL months
Of unrestricted warfare launched against
American and allied shipping by Germany
one year ago Friday there have been
sunk by submarines. mines and raiders
60 American vessels totalling 171061 gross
tons, according to a careful compilation
of records Of sinkings which have been
made public during the period.
Offsetting this loss Of American ves-
sells, most Of which were sailing ships,
the United States since February has
added to her merchant marine by the
seizure OF former German and Austrian
owned ships a total of 107 vessels having
a gross tonnage Of 6s6.4S4 leaving on the
credit side Of the American ledger in the
account with the central powers a net
gain Of SIS, 433 gross TONS The loss Of life
caused by the sinking Of the 60 Ameri-
can ships was more than 300 persons, how
ever.
The percentage Of sinkings Of American
chips compared with the number Of ves-
GELS which have sailed through the war
zone successfully is small. Records Of the
department Of commerce show that for
the period beginning with February 1.
a917, and ending with December 1, there
were cleared from American ports in the
Foreign trade ships aggregating II, 73S, 200
net, or approximately N,s344 400 gross tons.
The number of ships making up the
total Of tons was not made public by the
department.
Further offsetting the loss Of tonnage
occasioned by the submarine warfare.
the United States through the shipping
board requisitioned in American ship
yards 426 vessels totaling more than
100000 gross tons and contracts have
oeen awarded for 1884 ships, a large number
Oh which are now under way and are being
rushed to completion. In addition, the
shipping board on October Is last placed
under government requisition 1893 Ameri-
ran vessels Of over $500 tons dead weight
capacity which were already afloat and
Immediately assigned them to the task
of carrying supplies for the allies and
the American forces abroad.
included in these requisitioned YES.
seis were 81 ships in great lakes trade
hnd in addition there were comman.
beered "a steamers building on The
lakes for foreign account and ready
Tor launching. Virtually all of these
were brought to Atlantic coast ports
Ina Immediately put into service. AL.
most one-half of them had to be cut
IN two to get them through the Wei.
land canal, but the task was accomp.
lished and the ships rejoined in less
than three months from the time the
contract was awarded.
Another difficulty which faced the
United States in the task Of putting tc
sea vessels to Offset the ravages of the
O-boats was the repairing of the twill.
ful damage" done to the former Ger.
man ships by their officers ana crews
Oefore the ships were seized. This
cost millions of dollars, and in MANY
instances called for the highest enei-
Heering skill to make and replace parts
Of the foreign built engines and boil.
ers removed or broken.
indicating that the task has beer
attended by success. the statemen,
was made to-day by a prominent Of.
1icial connected with the SHINING
board, that every seized vessel wa,
now completely repaired and in sery.
Ice. Many of them have made as man,
as three and four round trips throu Rt
the war zone.
Three OF the former German vessels
have been the objects Of successful
attack by the submarines. The Actaeon
formerly the Adamsturm and tho
Owasco, formerly the Allemannia
were sunk. and the Armenia was hi
by a torpedo, but was saved after be
Ing beached Several other former Ger
man ships have been attacked bu
escaped.
the announced sinkings Of British
ehips Tor the year up to and includinf
the week ending January 23 have beer
1883 vessels Of which 1853 were ovel
1900 tons and 270 were under tina
figure. The joint losses of France ant
Italy have averaged 8 to I large yes
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