SWEEPING THE SEAS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14769, 7 October 1921, Page 6

SWEEPING THE SEAS

The world aj, large docs not realise what an enormous and difiicull task it was lo clear the seas of mines after the conclusion of the war. Round the British coasts alone *78,000 mines had been laid as a submarine barrier; and that area represented no more than a fraction of (he total where mines had been sown freely. The British forces engaged in this work of clearance have swept an area, about equal to (he whole of England and Wales; the work was done thoroughly, but wilh so much scientific care for the men employed that the loss of life lias been less Ilian one per cent of Ihe number of hands engaged. In Ibis beneficent kind of “sweeping the seas” Great Britain lias proved as efficient as in the warlike form for which Ihe Navy was designed.