MAGNETIC MINE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 109, 12 January 1940, Page 6

MAGNETIC MINE

NOT A REAL DANGER While Germany's new magnetic mine is likely to cause considerable inconvenience for a few weeks, it is not regarded as a real clanger in London (states the "Christian Science Monitor"). It is declared that magnetic mines can onlj r be effective in shallow water, so the western and southern coasts of both Britain and France are not affected. It is also claimed that even Britain's eastern ports have only been handicapped in a minor degree. Not a single port lias been closed, and during the period when shipping losses were at their height, a shipping convoy of considerable size steamed through the mined area and arrived Avithout any loss or damage. It is stated to be only a question of a few weeks before counter-meas-ures Avill be put into operation. Meanwhile, it is pointed out that shipping losses in the first week of the magnetic mine totalled only about 75,000 tons, whereas in the worst month of the last war they averaged 200,000 tons weekly. Six million tons Ave re even lost in one yea~, 1917, and during April of that Tear one in every four ships leaves H I tain never re'urnecl.