Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-27
ITALIAN SHIP
LOSSES
BY THE CENSOR
Merchant Fleet of Nation Is
Virtually Wiped Out by
Enemy U-Boats.

ROME Jan. 27.-The ministry OF
TRANSPORTS has just published some high
ly interesting statistics, which throw
much light on the question of freight
and shipping, a vital one for Italy, whose
very existence depends on her maritime
commerce. Here are some Of the most
important figures, which had been WITH
held during the war:
On December 81, 1914, Italy had a
mercantile fleet of 713 ships, totalhng
1929 OLA tons BY July i, 1919, she
had only 434 ships, totalling Lao 900
tons, namely, less. than 81 per cent
of her pre-war merchant fleet. From
Ian / 1915. to July /, 1919, 1854
ships. totaIling 1,3S7,0 73 tons, were lost,
and eighty-fve, with a total tonnage of
1864 were built. The loss Of ton
mage was due to the following causes:
245 ships. totaHing 1,055,642 tons, and
representing As per cent Of Italys mer-
krantile fleet before the war, were sunk
by submarines or mines: forty-hve
ships. totalling 1870, 751 tons, were lost
through storms and ordinary accidents
at sea (6 per cent? {; forty-two, totalling
| 1879. $50 tons &c per cent?, were broken
m: tbirty-one. or $3.50 tons e per
cent?, were sold abroad. Altogether 5o4
ships were lost, totalling 1891 73 tons,
3 anu IGpIE6CIIlAAS ~ NJ N1
mercantile fleet.
OLD TRAMPS
BOUGHT UP.
Old tramps, the refuse Of foreign ports,
have been bought up at fancy prices
abroad, while home production was sys-
tematically discouraged at home by an
incompetent bureaucracy rally needs,
if her commercial and industrial develop
ment Is not to be sacrificed, at least
100000 tons of shipping, and these she
could supply herself, especially now that
the yards Of Triest and ~Istria, which
were the most important OF the Austro-
Hungarian empire. have been added to
her resources, thus giving work to So
600 or more men.
1t is a far cry from the 1,431 ,655 tons
Of Italy's present merchant fleet TO the
1900. 900 tons, or thereabouts, which she
imperatively needs, and IN order to fill
MP the deficit she has had to charter
foreign vessels. England takes first place
MS the marine landlord, renting ~ffty-six
nhips, totalling 371,S15 tons. Other ma
tionalities have contributed as follows:
Portuguese, five ships, 29,460 tons: Chi
nese, one ship, $500 tons; Norwegian,
thirty-four ships, 143,097 tons; Greek,
nine ships, 45,725 tons; Swedish, ten
Hhips, 20.64O tons.
MOST ENGAGED
ON TIME CHARTERS.
Most of the ships have been engaged
on time charter. which is one of the
most expensive forms Of hire.
During the first six months of the
present year Italy's imports by sea were
rs follows:
Coal. 135. 9S1 tons from North America
md 2,7O6, $50 from England; grain, 1905
047 tons from North America, 292, S51 from
Eouth America, G1,736 from India, 321, 804
from Australia; wheat, $4,000 tons;
metals, 1912 tons from North America,
1915 from Great Britain frozen meat,
fl $50 tons from North America, 34,256
from South America cotton, 5000 tons
mineral oils. 5000. tons; miscellaneous
goods, 321,0 900 tons from North America,
I3,S2S from South America, 70,061 ons
from England, 159.32O tons (phosphates)
from Mediterranean ports, 1S6,926 tons
from other countries.
All this works out at a monthly rate
Of imports by sea amounting to 1867 7S
tons, which is insufficient for the in
dustriaI prosperity and development of
the country. The minister of transports
calculates that Italy is forced to spend
1000, 100000 lire a year owing to lack
Of tonnage. Nitti has made a most prac-
teal resolution in deciding to devote
5000, 900, 1000 lire to the reconstruction of
Italy's mercantile marine. thus giving n
great impetus to the shipbuilding indus
try, to which Italy at one time owed her
Greatness and prosperity.