NEW ABOMINATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1939, Page 5

NEW ABOMINATION

SIR J. SIMON ON SECRET MINELAYING

DENUNCIATION OF LAWLESS SAVAGERY.

CONFIDENCE IN BRITISH COUNTER-MEASURES.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.13 a.m.) RUGBY, November 23. Reference to Germany’s minelaying policy was made, in a broadcast speech last night, by Sir John Simon. He said: “You have been reading in your newspapers of this latest abomination of German savagery—magnetic mines secretly deposited in the channels of the sea, in order to blow up without warning neutral and British shipping alike and to destroy the innocent lives of women and children and unarmed men.

“This is a breach of the rules of war which Germany, only two months, ago, had expressly promised to obey. By this ruthless brutality the enemy hopes to sap the strength of our island fortress and to cut off our supplies. Meanwhile the brave crews of our minesweepers are risking danger for their country’s sake, our incomparable Navy is on the watch, the Air Force keeps ceaseless vigil, the Mercantile Marine continues its perpetual service and all that skill and science can devise is devoted to meeting the new danger. We are confident that their efforts will be successful.” MINES FROM PLANES DROPPED BY PARACHUTE. OBSERVATIONS IN THAMES ESTUARY. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON. November 23. It is revealed that German planes, flying low over the Thames estuary just before the raid last night dropped mines by means of parachutes. It is understood that the mines were magnetic. It is believed that German seaplanes have also been experimenting with the indiscriminate sowing of highly explosive miniature mines at sea. Seaplanes are able to carry a number of these. j British experts are devising a means of combating the menace. The crews of tugboats on the Thames witnessed the dropping of mines by parachutes. One man said: “I was staggered to see a big Gorman seaplane only fifty feet over water about a hundred yards from shore. I saw something splash in the water as it roared past. The machine was so close that I saw the silhouette of a man's head against a dim light burning in-the cockpit. A machine-gun opened up as it passed.” Others described objects like open umbrellas which drifted down slowly, clearly visible in the moonlight. One floated down the fairway and was exploded by rifle fire. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty. Mr G. H. Shakespeare, informed the House of Commons that fifteen German mines had been washed ashore on the British coast in the past fortnight. GERMAN THREAT REPLY TO BRITISH MEASURES UNRESTRICTED MINE WARFARE. LONDON, November 23. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Rotterdam correspondent says it is officially stated in Berlin that Germany will meet export control with unrestricted mine warfare. Daventry reports that it has been revealed that the Nazis have a new method of laying mines by dropping them from seaplanes. The mines are of a light kind and strung on lines. They include many of the magnetic type.