7 SEPTEMBER 1918, Page 2

The output of new merchant vessels from British yards in.

August amounted to 124,676 tons—about half the monthly average which the Admiralty six months ago hoped to attain during the latter part of this year. Lord Pirrie ascribes this very disappointing result partly to influenza and partly to the lack of skilled men. He states that an early reduction of the naval programme will release skilled shipbuilders for the construction of merchant ships.