Evening star., 1898-12-03
ENGL&ND's COAST DEFENSEs.
The Secrets of Her Explosive Mines
Are Carefully Guarded


In event of war. no alien army could ap-
proach our shores without imperiling it's
navy by encountering our explosive mines,
scores Of which surround our coasts at all
places likely to be selected for attack by
a foreign foe. The Thames is also care
| fully shielded by similar secret mines. ono
of these being in the vicinity of Blackwell
The precise locality Of these mines is, how
ever, for obvious reasons. kept a dark and
inscrutable mystery, and the approaches
| to them are so cleverly constructed and
concealed that no one save an expert would
suspect their real character.
An lnnocent-looking cellar at the base
nent OF a certain tradesman's shop Is tho
entrance TO one important mine but even
the tradesman himself is not aware that
the government rents his cellar, nor does
he ever surmise the true nature Of tho
operations carried on therein. The mines
are equipped with explosives Of the most
potent kind, and admirably connected with
the secret chambers on shore by means OF
electric wires
Each mine is controlled by button, over
which are printed particulars relating 10
the location and character of the mine.
This button is placed in the wall Of tho
secret chamber, and covered by a double
door securely locked. the outer door 50
closely resembling the wall of the chamber
that no one but those in the secret could
detect its presence. The chambers arc
double-locked, and approached by passages
protected In a similar manner
Every lock and key is specially made
for the government. and is unlike any
ether. Only q few of the very highest offl-
cials are allowed to use these keys and
they are solemnly sworn to preserve their
secret rgidly. No persons, apart from
those especially empowered, may inspect OF
visit any of the secret chambers at any
time, except by express written permit"
personally procured from certain high
official. This is exceedingly difficult 10 OBJ
TAIN and, in fact. is rarely ever granted.
Prior to such a permit being issued, the
officials assure themselves that the posses
sor of the document bears a blameless
character, Is British born. and has no ul-
terror reasons for preferring his request.
This settled, he is sworn TO secrecy, in
the most solemn manner, blindfolded, and
conducted by circuitous route to the
Cret chamber, where he is permitted to use
his eyes but not his tongue, no questions
being answered by the attending officials.
Strange stories have been told Of at
tempts made by foreign spies to penetrate
the privacy of these mysterious mines.
A young lieutenant in the navy, whose
honorable character won the confidence OF
his superior officers some years since, was
accorded the privilege OF guarding one Of
these secret mines. and intrusted with GER
tain Information concerning it's character.
Soon after his appointment he became
engaged to a charming young French lady,
of whom he was desperately enamored.
TO hear of his appointment. and, by alter
nate threats and persuasions. induced him
to take her TO see the secret mine under
his care.
On the evening arranged. after extracting
a solemn VOW of secrecy from his iady-love.
and getting her to don the dress of a naval
officer for the occasion, he was about TO
set out on his secret mission, when, to his
surprise and alarm. he ana his companion
were arrested by detectives In some mys-
terious manner the authorities had been en-
lightened as to the proceedings on foot,
and were IN time to stop them.
For breach of regulations" the young
lieutenant was subsequently court-mar-
tailed and reduced. while his charming COM
panion who proved to be a spy In the en-
ploy of the French government. was con-
veyed back to her own country with q
caustic caution.
On another occasion, a German gentle
man contrived to locate the entrance to one
of the secret chambers, and actually hired
a member of the Bill Skies fraternity 10 aid
him in negotiating the double locks one
dark November night But so splendidly
fitted and fortified were these appliances
both the visitors were doomed 20 disep-
pointment Returning from the rendezvous,
both the plotter and his accomplice were
arrested and imprisoned.