Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-22
AMERICAN DE SCR|BES
WORK or MINE sWEEPERS
Sent Hammcring Into Head Seas of
Lively Wind Ono Bitterly Cold
Sunday Morning.
ACCOUNT OF TRIP IN NORTH SEA
Careful Drag Kept Up Through Sue
cession OF Rain, Hail and Snow.
Fifteen Hours OF Drenching and
Buffeting One Days Portion.

LONDON. March 2l.--A young
American. who recently signed for ad-
venturous service as a member OF the
crew Of mine sweeper. sends tho fol-
lowing account OF one of his trips out
into the North Sea:
Order: You Will proceed at once
to and will sweep the area
marked on the accompanying chart
This was the order which sent us ham
merinB into the head seas of n lively
wind on bitterly cold Sunday morn
ing Mt o'clock. Probably few of us
on the staggering trawler at that hour
paused to reflect that tho duty OF
sweeping the sea has been Imposed
upon us by discovery made In the
Far East, whom Japan and Russia en-
tered upon costly tests OF modern naval
hghting equipment to the benefit OF
keenly Interested spectators. That dis
covery was the offensive value Of the
submarine mine. Japan led tho way
in tho matter. but Russia, once awak-
ened, followed with such efficiency that
at the final balance 1t was found that
Japan had lost ten warshlps through
mines and Russia fourteen. The mines
had done practically as much harm to
the respective navies as tho ships had
been able to inflict upon each other.
Therefore. 1t was that We were
plunged into n snowstorm to collect,
II possible. any free mines which the
gale might have swept into the track
OF shipping. 1t takes n tight vessel to
survive the weller and smother which
rise no quickly In these waters In
tho winter months. especially, the work
goes amid conditions of great
Beverity. and our ships frequently keep
tho sea rs mine sweepers when ms
trawlers they would neo to the shelter
of their harbors.
Our ship is one OF the best of her
stnnch type, and she reeled along won
derfully on that Sunday morning.
Somewhere in the darkness to star
board there showed through the whirl-
ing snow the lights Of another vessel
running on the same course as our
selves, and at the same speed The
dawn came up and showed her to be
kin to U.S. and the signals ut once made
clear that In her we beheld our sweep
Ing partner. There arises curious
respect for her. She must know quite
Well that mt any moment her piunging
bows may meet n mine. and then there
would be vacancy ut her end OF the
drag tackle and vacancies in little cot
taEes in the isles.
Our partner was an old friend and
knew the work. Arrived ut the ap-
pointed area, the littlo vessels ran
close in and the gear was linked up.
1t was hard work. even for trawlers
That marked the beginning of the day.
The little vessels separated, found their
distance TO n nicely In the teeth of the
wind. and started off. The whole
operation was carried through with
scarcely n word uttered, and the long
days work was under way. Hour ar
ter hour. through n succession OF rain.
hail and snow. careful drag wac kept.
If there were frozen feet in the
trenches that day, there were also
frozen hands on the seas.
Fifteen hours Of drenchlng and
bureting we're our portion that day.
The vessel, with the pull OF the tackle
and the drive OF her engines Keeping
her down like n half-tide rock. was
never clear OF tho sweeping seas
Thud. slap. crash. swish-they came
over her bows and swirled along the
deck. never ceasinE their constant aa-
sault
when the snow passed. there was
n glimpse OF sun. Then tho wind
backed against the sun. and came down
on us In Wild gusts. Icy cold. AS tho
afternoon wore on the cold increased.
and just before nightfaN came
strange lull. which let In biting
frost
The hardy fellows on board were
stiff and numb before tho day was
and shipped nobody was sorry"