The Washington herald., 1914-08-12
BRITONS warn
j. S. SHIPPING
England VIII Lay Mines in
North Sea to Retaliate
Against Germany.
EMBASSY NOTIFIES BRYAN
State Department Considering What
ActOR to Take to Protect Eu-
ropean Trade Routes.
EMBASSY NOTIFIES BRYAN

The British government yesterday noti-
fled the United States that because of
the laying OF contact mines in the open
sea in the North Sea by Germany II prob
ably will resort to the same measures in
those waters. This notification. and
warning to all American shipping. was
brought to Secretary Bryan by Colville
Barclay. charge d'affaires Of the British
embassy here.
The situation with regard to mines hav-
ing thus been officially brought to the at
tention Of the United States government,
the State Department now has under con-
sideration the question Of what action IL
will take, IL any, for the better protec-
tion OF American shipping, which un-
doubtedly be considerably endangered.
While the mines are to be confined to
the North Sea, leaving the English chan
mel free, so far as is known now, shipping
from Sweden, Norway, Russia and North
Germany will be menaced by lthe mines
If II follows its usual routes.
There is no expectation thai the cruis-
ers Tennessee and North Carolina, which
are hUrrying to Europe to aid in the
relief OF Americans, will be in the slight
est danger from the mining operations
OF Great Britain and Germany. There
is now no plan Of sending either vessel
into the North Sea. Americans seeking
probably will have TO go around Scotland
on the ocean side. The action of Eng
land yesterday in warning the United
States Of the possibility Of the placing
Of further mines in the North Sea is
taken TO indicate that she will give ade-
quate warning il the mine fields are ex-
tended into other waters. The Germans,
on the other hand, can hardly lay mines
in the English Channel. as the British
a., -gz in, 0f n
It is doubted here whether the United
States can do more than file a formal
protest against the placing of mines in
the open sea by the belligerents, this
protest to serve as a basis for a claim
for damages after the war in case
an American vessel is destroyed by con-
tact with a mine.
1t is further provided in The Hague
convention that In all cases of the lay
ing of mines, governments must take
every precaution to secure the safety Of
the shipping Of neutrals. 1t is believed
that the United States may have a case
against Germany, as no notification has
been received at WasnIrg gton Of the plac-
ing of mines in the open waters Of the
North Sea.
Contents of British Note.
The memorandum handed Secretary
Bryan by the English charge was as
follows:
The Germans are planting contact
mines indiscriminately about the North
Sea in the open sea without regard for
consequences to merchantmen. Two days
ago four large merchant ships were
observed 10 pass within a mile Of the
mine field which sank the H NJ S.
Amphion.. The waters Of the North Sea
must therefore, be regarded as perilous
inthe last degree to merchant shipping
Of all nations
In view Of the methods adopted by
Germany the British admiralty must
hold themselves fully at liberty TO adopt
similar measures in self-defense. which
must inevitably increase the dangers 70
navigation in the North Sea.
But, before doing so. they think It is
right to issue this warning in order that
merchant ships under neutral flag. trad
ing with North Sea ports, should turn
back befre entering the area Of such ex-
ceptional danger