THE BEVERLEY SISTERS

摘要

World War I had profound effects on the British shipping industry. Not only were losses of men and ships horrendous, but ships and shipbuilding came under increasing government control. Ships were quickly requisitioned as armed merchant cruisers, troop ships or Admiralty colliers, and eventually movements of almost all deep-sea ships were controlled by the state. The Admiralty restricted most shipyards to building vessels designed to help the war effort. The laying down of cargo vessels was largely ignored until U-boat sinkings threatened Britain's ability to wage war and to feed itself. Even then, coasters were largely neglected, despite heavy losses to mines and submarines.