In England as in America, there has been complaint of lethargy in ship-building. A valuable result of the frank statement as to submarines and ships lately made in the House of Commons by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Eric Geddes, has been the centering of public opinion and official effort on the speeding up of ship-building. It may well have the like effect in this country. This is a case where clear knowledge of the facts is essential to the right prosecution of war work.

It is true that since January 6 of this year there has been no single week in which the total losses of British ships have been equal to the average weekly number since the ruthless submarine warfare began. It is true also that Germany's threats of destroying British trade within a year have not been fulfilled, or anything like fulfilled. Nevertheless the figures now given as to the world's shipping show that the loss by submarines is serious; that the new shipping launched is not keeping up with the losses; and that the submarine will be a continuing menace until ship-building in Great Britain and the United States is speeded up to more than cover the losses. Sir Eric puts the gross loss from all causes in the world's shipping (exclusive of enemy loss) during the war at over 11,000,000 tons, of which 6,000,000 tons were lost in 1917, and estimates Great Britain's net loss since the ruthless submarine warfare began at 1,300,000 tons--that is, the losses have exceeded the output by that amount. On the other hand, there was a welcome gain relatively in the last quarter of 1917 in shipbuilding.

It may be added that the war against submarines carried on by British and American naval vessels and armed merchantmen has been brave and skillful in the extreme. It is believed with reason that better results are being obtained all the time. As to this Sir Eric said:

"The results of the past year have shown the ability of our seamen to get upon terms with the submarine menace and gradually to gain the upper hand. This result has been achieved in spite of an imperfect knowledge of a new and barbarous method of warfare and of a scarcity of suitable material. Our material resources for this warfare are already improved, and are being rapidly augmented, whilst science is placing at our disposal means of offense and defense of which we have been in need. --The Outlook.