ADMIRALTY ORDERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2871, 8 September 1916, Page 6

ADMIRALTY ORDERS

RULES FOR. -VT™ CHANT SHIP-

PING. Some additional rules laid down by the British Admiralty for tho guidance of merchant shipping in the war areas are published in this week's Gazette, lieferonco is mado to some alteration and extension of the mine-fields in tho i English Channel, and, shipmasters are warned that they should secure the services of Trinity House pilots. "It must not be supposed," state tho authorities, _ "that' navigation is necessarily safe in any part of tho southern waters of the North Sea." Two light-vessels have been moored in tho English Channel off Folkestone, at a distanco nf five cables «ipart, <md traffic is required to pass between theso two ships, unless orders to tho contrary are received. Ships disregarding this order will do so at their own risk. "In.viow of the danger of His Majesty's ships approaching vessels, apparently neutral, British and Allied traders, but which are in reality Gorman [raiding cruisers," runs another paragraph, "it is necessary to adopt a special boarding proceduro as a measure of precaution. This procedure has been notified to all neutral and Allied Powers." Tho arrangement is that the warship will lower a boat and hoist a special signal. The. merchantman must then close upon the boat, whether the warship remains in the vicinity or not. Tho Lords of tlie_ Admiralty havo taken into consideration "the fact that it may bo necessary to forbid all entrance to certain ports of the Empire," and rules for the guidance of shipping are laid down accordingly. Tho Dorts affected include Wellington, Auckland. Lyttelton, and Dunedin, and the' chiof ports in other parts of tha Empire.