DRIFTING MINES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 39, 25 November 1939, Page 5

DRIFTING MINES.

GERMANY'S DECISION. ON SEA ROUTES TO BRITAIN. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, November 24. The Copenhagen correspondent of “The Times” says that, proclaiming that Germany lias the right to conduct mine warfare against Britain, the Berlin newspapers announce that at a suitable moment drifting mines will be laid along all the principal sea rouies to Britain. These mines, it is declared, will be the chief weapon with which Germany intends to enforce her “Continental blockade” of Britain, which is the principal aim of the newly-appointed Blockade Director. Germany, it is added, knows well that it is against international law to attack commercial shipping with mines ; hut it is argued that her new mine warfare is not directed against merchantmen, but against warships. Therefore it is not against the law. The Berlin “Boersen Zeitung” declares: “Sailing for Britain in future means sailing to death.” Neutral correspondents in Berlin report that the German authorities consider they are perfectly entitled to lay mines on the trade routes, even though this is forbidden under. The Hague Convention. .The Germans maintain that this is a logical- answer to the British convoy system and the arming of merchant ships which, they say, is illegal. The right to convoy has never been questioned, however, while mines and other methods of attack on merchant shipping are illegal. Defensive armament in no way alters the status of a merchantman. The Berlin correspondent of the “New York Times” says: “Although Germany is blaming Britain for tin. sinking of neutral ships, The Hague Mine Agreement of 1907, giving the right to lay mines before war ports without announcing the action, is supplying propaganda ammunition. Germany is claiming to be observing the agreement, but contends that the British coast is not a regular commercial route but a military zone into which neutrals are forced by British minefields.” SUGGESTION REJECTED. REPRISAL AGAINST GERMANS. LONDON, November 23. Replying to a suggestion, in the House of Commons that German prisoners -might be placed on British ships as a deterrent to Germany’s illegal marine policy, the Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) said: “Such' action would be contrary to the convention; governing the treatment of prisoners of war to which His Majesty’s Government is a pajrty; and: it will continue to observe that convention.” —British Offical Wireless.