House of Commons updated on wartime acts

Sir Edward Carson made an important statement in the House of Commons in regard to the naval side of the war.

Despite submarines and mines, upwards of 8,000,000 men had been carried across the seas, as well as 9,420,000 tons of explosives and material.

The menace of the submarine was serious, but he was confident they could mitigate it.

To cope with the problem an Anti-Submarine Department had been formed at the Admiralty.

The proportion of armed merchant vessels attacked, which escaped, was about 75 per cent as against 24 per cent unarmed. There had been 40 encounters with submarines since February 1.

In consequence of Germany’s submarine challenge, an Order in Council has been issued containing new directions for shipping, with the objection of tightening the blockade of enemy countries.

An attack on the Turks near Kut has had excellent results. Nearly 2000 prisoners were taken.

Successful operations have been carried out by our troops against small posts which the Turks had reestablished at Nekhl (70 miles east of Suez) and at Bir-el-Hassana. On our side there were no casualties.

From the Roumanian front, activity is reported. The Russians give details of the repulse of a massed attack near the north-west corner of Roumania.