THE GERMAN MINES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 193, 10 May 1919, Page 6

THE GERMAN MINES

WELDS I'ItOBABLY CLEAR NOW. .It is .considered, fairly ~c?r.tji.in '.now 'that no' Gerinair iiiines I 'are. anchored it the original minefields off tlie• New Zea land coast, though precautions are sfil being observed ljy'shipping.' The area have been swept very, thoroughly, am the. only mines located in recent month; have been those found'on- the coast wlmrc tliey had drifted ashore. '"■The number of mines so far aecountei' for is approximately 45. out of 60 mines reported lo havo'been laid' by the German raider. It is exceedingly 'improbable that all the mines will ever be accounted "fori since some of thenr may 'have sunk and other 'may ha ve exploded oil wj«»ttt«d. portions of the coast. ' ' The German .mines' were no): fitted witl anv device intended to make (hem in effective after a certain period, as the* should have been in order, to coram? with international law. The' mooring de vice, however, was not likely to remaii iii order for a prolonsed period. ■ A win rope connecting an .anchor and a weHr van through a pulley attached to tin bottom of' thn- mi'ie. Tb" weight, waf so .adjusted, that it. Kent the-mine Mj a certain depth beneath the surface. This meant: that the wire had dailv movemoiit throiiph Hie. "pulk'y, as th<* rose and MI, and it nnppars v that in time flie-Avire failed and tlie mine wag released. • /