COASTS SEALED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 160, 8 July 1940, Page 7

COASTS SEALED.

E.A.P. LAY MINES.

Extensive Area In Baltic, North Sea And Norway. MANY NAZI SHIPS SUNK. . United Press Association.—Copyright. ' (Received 11.30 a.m.) •'"V-' LONDON, July 7. _ The whole of Germany's Baltic and North Sea coasts and Norwegian waters have been sealed by minefields, states au Air Ministry communique. This is the most remarkable feat which ■ has been performed by the Royal Air Farce.

Tho Air Ministry states that Royal Air Force bombers obtained outstanding results in mining the Baltic and the Belts. From the easternmost Baltic ports to the north of .Norway no safe passage exists. There is no fiord, no estuary, 110 harbour in German or occupied territory that can be used, without risk. Belays of British craft have laid the minefields as fast as the Germans eould sweep passages tlirough them. Tho Bomber Command, the Fleet Air Arm and the Coastal Command have dealt similarly with the enemy's North Sea ports, estuaries and harbours. In two Baltic minefields alone Geri many is known, to have lost 32 ships sunk, and many others damaged. One field sank five ships in 30 hours. At least one German warship is reported to have been seriously damaged. Long and Constant Labour. The mine-laying aeroplanes have worked every night for 12 weeks since the invasion of Norway to increase the size, number and density of the minefields, creating a serious peril against which the enemy has been forced to exert desperate and continuous effort.

Minefields revealed by the loss of ships arc heavily protected against further ininelaj'ing by anti-aircraft ships, searchlights, balloons, warships and motor boats, hut these waters arc admirable for mining, and all the time varied and additional fields are laid in every main navigable route the Germans can use. One unit has flown 250,000 miles in this task.

Minelayers need highest navigational and piloting skill. The crews often fly to the extreme range of their aeroplanes against the hazards of weather and the most concentrated and most determined enemy defences.

The actual and potential material and moral damage inflicted has been out ot all proportion to our losses," says the Air Ministry. "The minefields have disorganised the Germans' seaborne traffic and compelled them to provide defensive and minesweeping forces oil an over-in-creasing scale, which lias incalculably affected their morale."

A message from Gothenburg (Sweden) says the German Ambassador announced that no Ashing boat 6 would be allowed in a very large area of the Skagcr-Rak. The dse of wireless is prohibited. Swedish fishermen at Massuefc decided to protest to the Government.