1915. 1st Quarter 5,000 1,000 6,000 2d Quarter 500 500 1,000 3d Quarter 3,500 6,000 9,500 4th Quarter 2,500 ... 2,500 1916. 1st Quarter ... 241,000 241,000 2d Quarter 3,500 8,000 11,500 3d Quarter ... 47,500 47,500 4th Quarter ... ... ... 1917. 1st Quarter ... ... ... 2d Quarter 7,000 702,500 709,500 3d Quarter 4,500 266,500 271,000 4th Quarter ... 78,000 78,000 ------- --------- --------- Total 780,000 1,809,000 2,589,000 [Illustration] The Month's Submarine Record British merchant ships sunk during the month ended April 7, 1918, were fewer than in the preceding month, the weekly official reports showing a sharp increase followed by an unusually low record, resulting in a considerably decreased total. The British Admiralty figures were: Over 1,600 Under 1,600 Fishing Tons. Tons. Vessels. Week ended March 17, 1918 11 6 2 Week ended March 24 16 12 1 Week ended March 31 6 7 5 Week ended April 7 4 2 2 -- -- -- Total for four weeks 37 27 10 Total previous 4 weeks 53 16 9 One of the largest vessels sunk was the British steamship Minnetonka, 13,528 gross tons, formerly in the New York-London service of the Atlantic Transport Line. This happened in the Mediterranean in February, 1918, while the Minnetonka was in the service of the British Admiralty. The Minnetonka was the last of the four passenger ships of the line, aggregating 55,099 gross tons, to remain afloat. The others all have been sunk since the war began. The three others were the Minneapolis, sunk March 22, 1916; Minnehaha, sunk Sept. 7, 1917, and the Minnewaska, sunk Nov. 29, 1917. Incomplete French records show the loss of three vessels of over 1,600 tons and five under 1,600 tons. Italian losses included seven steamships of over 1,500 tons, three sailing vessels of over 100 tons, and fifteen smaller sailing craft. Official dispatches from Barcelona reported the sinking by German submarines of two Spanish vessels, one in the Mediterranean and the other off the Canary Islands. These reports confirmed the statement that Germany had commenced a blockade of the Spanish coast to prevent the use of Spanish shipping to help the Allies.