THE MINE FIELDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 109, 1 October 1914, Page 6

THE MINE FIELDS.

SWEEPING THE NORTH SEA. Hull, August 12. Ever since tho Konigiu Louise was caught laying mines in the North Sea, British ships, for the ■benefit of other nations besides their own, have been "sweeping" the waters for tlhose deadly machines. The work is done part y by torpedo boats and destroyers, and partly by the Speeial Trawler Reserve. As inr as Hull is concerned, the latter was established tvro or three years ago, but recent events have made it necessary to increase it, and arrangements are being completed here to enlist about a dozen additional trawlers. As this entails tho engagement of more men, an advertisement was published saying, "Wanted, skippers, mates, deck-hando, engine-men and trimmers, who have served and are serving in trawlers, to j join Special Trawler Reserve. Candidates to apply at -Mercantile Marine Office, Postcrngate, Hull." There has al- ' ready been a rush in answer to this request, because ordinary members of the crew of a trawler engaged in mine , sweeping get double pay, the skipper lms sixteen shillings daily, and intermediate ranks in proportion. Tho mines must be difficult to detect, and therefore the most dangerous to ships, are those which, by some kind of | anchorage, are kept just below the surface of tho sen. To discover them a couple of trawlers steam slowly abreast but a thousand yards or even more apart. They carry between them a strong line of steel wire, sufficiently weighed to sink as far as tlio vessels will allow it. If the wire meets the cable of a mine, it drags it to the surface, and unless the machine explodes in the operation, it is fired by other means—usually ritlc bulieta. As for floating mines, they can- ' not always be seen when the sea is i rough; consequently, the trawlers use a : big net, tho top of which floats on the ! surface of the water, while the lower ' edge is ft little distance below. The por- ' tion of this dangerous task which lies i nearest to tho English coast is allotted j to tho Trawler Reserve. Further out it : is dono by torpedo boats and destroy- 1 ers."—Morning Post.