London, Sept. 26.
VIVID, reassuring picture of Great Britain's increasing naval efforts to combat the German submarine menace was given by Mr, Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, in the House of Commons today. After stating that the convoy system was now in full operation, Mr. Churchill said Great Britain's second reply to the U-boat attack was to arm all merchant vessels and fast liners with defensive armament, both against the U-boat and the}
In the past fortnight, he' declared, armed ships had been continually leaving British harbours in large numbers.
Some went in convoys, and some independently.
Thus, in a short time, the immense mercantile marine of the British Empire would be armed.
"As we usually have 2,000 ships on the sea every day," Mr, Churchill: continued, "this is 'a considerable operation, but all guns and equipment are now ready at various arming stations, with] tained gunners to man guns and instruct crews.
"The third reply," the First Lord informed tHe House, "is British attack. on the U-boat, which is being de-Tivered with the utmost vigour and Intensity."
Making comparison with the problem 25 years ago, Mr. Churchill Gald the advantages Britain possessed today were much greater in coping with the U-boat, Very often, in hunt Ing down x U-boat, it was then neces-saw to use a flotilla of fifteen or twenty destress ers working together for a whole day on very vague me Gications. Now, two destroyers, oF even one, could maintain a prolonged find relentless pursuit. ons of German shipping is shelter Ing in German or neutral harbours."
'Mtr. Churchill revealed that Britain had actually arrested, seized converted to her own use 67,000 tons' more German merchandise than had been sunk in British ships (cheers).
"Even In oil, where we have been uunhicky t> lose. some. tanka said, "we lost 60,000 tons in the Arst fortnight and gained $0,000 tons from, the enemy, apart from enormous additional stores we brought safely to Britain in the ordinary. way
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.