Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-01-30
'This Is the Toll of American
Shipping Since Germany
Started Her Ruthless U-boat
War IL Months Ago,
MORE THAN 800 LOST
LIVES BY DROWNING
To Offset Our Loss of Ships,
We Have Added Gross Ton
mage of 686,494, Leaving a
Credit in Our Favor.

teY hoRNIHo JOURNAL sryelAL LEASED WiEsl
New York. Jan. 29.--In the twelve
months of unrestricted warfare
launched against American and allied,
shipping by Germany one year ago
Friday, there have been sunk by sub
marines, mines and raiders sixty-nine
American vessels totalling ,06l
tons, according to a careful compila
ton of records of sinkings which have
been made public during the period.
Offsetting this loss of American
vessels, most of which We're sailing
ships, the United States since Febru-
airy ! has added to her merchant ma
rine by the seizure OF former German
and Austrian -owned ships. total of
l07 vessels having gross tonnage
of 6S6 494, leaving on the credit side
of the American ledger in the account
with the central powers, d net gam
Of 5l5,43S gross tons. The loss of life
caused by the sinking of the sixty-nine
American ships was more than 500
persons, however. a
The percentage of sinkings of Amer
lean ships compared with the number
of vessels which have sailed through
the war zone successfully is small.
Records of the department of COM
merce show that for the period begin
ming with February /, 1917, and end
ing with December /, there were
cleared from American ports in the
foreign trade ships aggTegating IT,
73S,900 net, or approximately "a
S3i, ,460 gross tons. The number of
ships making up the total of tons was
not made public.
1925 Ships Rcquisitioncd.
Further offsetting the loss of tom
mage occasioned by the submarine
warfare, the United States, through
the shipping board requisitioned in
American shipyards 426 vessels total
ling more than 100000 gross tons
and contracts have been awarded for
are under way and are being rushed
to completion. In addition, the ship
ping board on October Is last, placed
under government requisition 393
American vessels of over $500 tons
deadweight capacity which were al
them to the task of carrying supplies
for the allies and the American forces
abroad.
Included in these requstioned ves-
sells were twenty-one ships in Great
Lakes trade and in addition there
were Communicated twenty four
steamers building on the lakes for
foreign account and ready for launch
ing Virtually all of these were
brought to Atlantic coast ports and
Immediately put into service.
Had to Repair Damage.
Another difficulty which faced the
United States in the task of putting to
sea vessels to offset the ravages of
the U-boats was the repairing of the
"wilful damage" done to the former
German ships by their officers and
crews before the ships were seized.
This cost millions of dollars and in
many instances called for the highest
engineering skill to make and re-
place parts Of foreign built engines
and boilers removed or broken.
Indicating that the task has been
attended by success, the statement was
made today by a prominent official
connected with the shipping board,
that every seized vessel now was COM
pletely repaired and in service. Many
of them have made as many as three
and four round trips through the war
zone.
British Shipping Losses.
Three of the former German ves-
sely have been the objects OF success
ful attack by submarines Tho
Actaeon. formerly the Adamsturm.
and the Owasco formerly the Allie
MAMMA, We're sunk and the Armenia
was hit by a torpedo but was saved
atrer being beacned. Several Other
former German SHIPS have been at
t9cked but escaped.
Th announced sinking of BRUSH
ships for the year up to and in-lu6-
irg the week e14ing January % have
beer 1893 vessels OF which T53 were
ov,r 1900 tons and 270 wers undo,
tra' figure. ia joint 10 sey of
Trance and Italy have been averaged
three to four iare vessels wsekly