CLOSING THE GERMAN BIGHT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3188, 12 September 1917, Page 10

CLOSING THE GERMAN BIGHT

OBJECT Of THE NBW BRITISH ' MINE ZONE. From an authoritative (lourcc Kcutcr learns that, the now British mino zone in tho North Sea has been laid for the specific purpose of preventing German ships and submarines from coming out of the Heligoland Bight. With this object the British minefield has been extended northward along the coast of Denmark, outside territorial waters, to tlio extreme north-west point of Denmark, thus preventing enemy craft from proceeding from the Bight northward round

the coast of .Scotland, and so getting clear oil raiding or other expeditions. Further, in order more securely to close enemy egress from the Heligoland Bight southward along (he coast of Holland, tho British mine aim has been extended to the westward and the southward of the limits previously fixed.

The difference between British and German methods should be noted. Great Britain carefully waa'ns neutrals of the existence of an area that has been rendered dangerous by tho laying of mines, and notifies the limits of tho zone in question. Germany declares liujra area as a war zone, in which all vessels are sunk indiscriminately without warning. The German method is a purely arbitrary delimitation of ocean, and doe.? not entail the actual laying of mines; indeed, the area indicated is so large that it is beyond the power of Germany to mine it. efficiently. If no free passage exists between the two zones, it is clearly the business of Germany to mover her

line of arbitrary limit to the westward, where necessary, a course that could easily be followed without in any way impairing the military value which she may attach to her "prohibited zone." which in itself is not a mined area established in accordance with international

law. On the other hand, the steps taken by the British Admiralty have been necessitated by purely military reasons, and it is not considered possible, without impairing their military value, materially to niter the present limits of this minefield. It cannot be too often -eiterated that Germany's method of enforcing her decrees as regards prohibited areas is to flout all considerations of law :-nd humanity by sinking at sight any vessel found' therein, whereas no such procedure is. allowed by the British authorities, nor has it even been contemplated at anv lime since the war began. It is

understood (adds Renter) that arrangements are being considered for a sliglit modification of the limits of the British minefield in order to meet the wishes of the Dutch Government.