ENEMY MINE=LAYER LOST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1939, Page 5

ENEMY MINE=LAYER LOST

SUNK OFF DANISH COAST. SOME MEMBERS OF CREW SAVED. COPENHAGEN, November 25. A German minelayer struck a mine in a mine belt near the Danish island of Langeland. Several of the crew were saved and 15 or 16 are believed to be missing. NAVAL DEVICE AGAINST MAGNETIC MINE MENACE. ELECTRICAL DETONATION. LONDON, November 25. The “Sunday Dispatch” understands that the Admiralty is able to conquer the magnetic mine menace by devising a means of throwing a powerful elec-tro-magnetic force some hundreds of feet ahead of the mine-sweepers. This can be controlled like an electric ray and can detonate mines before they make contact with the vessels. NEUTRALS SARCASTIC COMMENT ON GERMAN LAWLESSNESS. While neutral countries are worried at the destruction of their shipping, some of them wax sarcastic at the German justification of this breach of the law by the indiscriminate laying of mines, a radio report states. One Dutch newspaper comments: “What pretty advice to give to Holland, Scandinavia and Belgium, whose only exit is through the war zone.” The Belgian Press, while pointing out the serious consequences on neutral shipping of the British reprisal, says it is logical, and less cruel than the destruction of ships by mines and the murder of innocents. “The Germans are not entitled today to be the indignant defenders of neutrals’ rights,” was the cryptic comment of one paper. ANOTHER STEAMER SUNK (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, November 26. It is revealed that the Hookwood was sunk by a mine on Thursday. Two members of the crew are missing. The remainder were landed from a warship.