7 JULY 1917, Page 9

The weekly return of losses by mine or submarine again

shows a welcome decrease. Last week we lost fifteen merchantmen over 1,600 tons—five less than the week before, and ten less than the week before that. In the five weeks ending on July 1st we lost nearly twenty large vessels a week, on the average, so that last week we were fortunate. It has been suggested that the enemy submarines were mainly engaged in their vain attempt to intercept the American troops, but the protection of the transports must have thrown extra work on the Allied naval forces. Besides the large ships, we lost also five small vessels last week, and no fewer than eleven fishing-boats.