SEA MINES.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 October 1919, Page 2

SEA MINES.

3 The popular belief that the mines ‘which were so profusely laid off the ‘New Zealand coasts by the German , raider were of a type intended to float‘on the surface of the water, and thus ‘bring merchantmcn to their destruction, is refuted by Mr Duncan P. Bauchop, a. New Zealander who recently returned from England, where he occupied during the war a position as adVisor to the Admiralty on the subject of submarine mining. “There is no such thing as a floating mine,” said Mr Bauchop recently. “It would be too ridiculous a thing, for it would be seen on the surface and avoided.” Mr Baucvhop went on to explain that the mines washed up on the beaches along the coast ‘were nioorcd-mine type, but they had -broken away from their anchorage. The British mine of ‘the s»a.ln‘c variety, in accordance with the terms of the Hague Convention, is only effective so long as it is moored, and as soon as fit breaks ladrift it becomes harm}-css. It was [only another instance of the consisttency of the German in breaking com‘pacts, said Mr Bauchop, that in laying "his mines ‘he cnSu.rcd‘tha.f. they should break loose and still retain “their destructive powers.-