SWEEPING FOR MINES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 29 May 1919, Page 5

SWEEPING FOR MINES.

WORK OFF THE COAST. Referring to tho work performed in dealing with the mines laid off the New Zealand coast, Captain Hall Thompson, naval adviser, mentioned the fact that the whaling steamer Hanauui was employed for the final sweep, and tho Admiralty is now sending out to New Zealand two mine-sweeping sloops •specially built for this duty. They will operate in the two minefields, and will give additional security to shipping, but for tho present the barred zone is still observed.

Captairj Hall Thompson expressed appreciation of the services of the crews of the two trawlers employed, who wore taken over with their vessels, the Nora Niven and Simplon. They hud no knowledge of their dangerous tusk, but they swept efficiently. There was no accident duo to enemy mines, but unfortunately one man was lost overboard from the Simplon during a gale, and another hud to undergo amputation of one foot as the result of an accident in port. The trawlers swept up a number of mines, the total accounted for, including those exploded on beaches, being -IS out of GO laid by the enemy. Some “ratings” were placed on trawlers, but those men had no practical experience of mine sweeping, as this duty only arises during war-time work. They had to commence quite without knowledge, but information supplied by Gormans after the armistice shows that the naval officials made a very accurate guess, and their prohibited areas completely covered the danger spots. “When wo got the German information,” remarked Captain Hall Thompson, “it was practically, word for word with wiiat was ]dotted out, showing that the mine sweepers did their work efficiently. Operations were commenced simply on the assumption that there was a minefield somewhere. Exploratory sweeps showed there were two.”

One lino of mines, 18 miles in extent, ran in a north-westerly direction from Cape Hooper, oft' the North Cape, which would intercept tho courses of vessels., coming either., from the westward. or from Three Kings to round the North Cape, and tlie danger zone fixed directed shipping to keep outside tho hundred fathom line, which took vessels GO miles clear of North Cape. The second minefield covered a line of approximately 25 miles long off Capo Farewell light, to intercept ships running up tho west const into Cook Strait, or coming from Sydney or Melbourne. In this case, too, the directions Horn the naval authorities took ships clear of tho danger. The New Zealand naval authorities have complete scale drawings of the mines. It is one good point in favour of tho Germans that they wore designed in accordance with international law, so as to become harmless on breaking loose from their moorings, but unfortunately, although gear was lilted for disconnecting the bring apparatus from a charge of 2901 b. explosive in a mine, it easily got out of order by rusting, and was not effective.