IN THE NORTH SEA.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15133, 30 January 1917, Page 3

IN THE NORTH SEA.

BRITAIN EXTENDING MINE- ' FIELDS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON, January 29. The American Embassy at London cables that Britain has enlarged the North Sea area which is dangerous to shipping. American officials say it is designed to prevent egress from German ports, Heligoland, .or Kiel. It bars shipping from most of the area of the Dogger Bank except a narrow coastal strip. The announcement is regarded as most important. LONDON, January 29. Telegrams from Scandinavia show that Britain is laying a minefield off the coast of Jutland. THE MAGHDABA SUCCESS. STRONG NATURAL DEFENCES. CAIRO, January 17. An officer who participated in the recent fighting east of the Suez Canal, says that Maghdaba offered wonderful facilities for defence, in the form of a scrubuy, level plain of sand and mud, with the Wady River in the centre. The deep, winding gorge of the river bed, ’“ith the scrub, afforded splendid cover, of which the Turks made the utmost use. There were numerous hidden redoubts, whence Abdul poured out the hottest and most accurate of fire, particularly on the frontal attack. But the British and Australasians would not be denied. Dashingly pushing on from cover to cover, they captured the outlying parties of the enemy till they approached the main body, which they hotly engaged till the Turks, defeated, surrendered.