DRIFTING GERMAN MINES.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 July 1919, Page 3

DRIFTING GERMAN MINES.

Considerable indignation exists in the Nzivyat GoTlllallY‘s failure to lend effective aid in sweeping up mines, says a correspondent of the ‘‘Pall Mall Gazette.” The Germans seem to be doing next to nothing in thi's‘iEspot, and conseequently the entire bur‘-:len falls on our men. German mineseand there are thousandswhich have broke; away from their mcc-rings and bi dr~=v‘rir-t -~~~« nrwtisrularly d'3ngerous_ .Lil\,el'i.£'Lll_i'.}'~x;..l Tuw provides that mines which.b'-‘-ak loose should all'.m:lat.?~-zelly bee.».;e harmless. Tim \fim'lrans o‘:)S‘-:'~'ed this rule to the extent of fitting a safety device, consisting of a, chain,

one end of which is fixed to tho primer, in the mine and the other end to the mooring cable, so that the mine,* in breaking loose, pulls out ,the primer and thus becomes harmless. But with their customary thoughtfulness the Germans invariably severed this chain before laying the mine!