The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-05-07
GERMANS LAY 1000.
MINES EACH MONTH.
Will Constitute Menace to
Ships Long After War
ONLY FEW EXPLODE
Adjustment of StabiIizing Equipment
No Easy Task and 1t Does Not
Always Mountaineering
Report by Admiral

Paris. April &-(Correspondence of the
Associated Press -German submarines
and mine layers place an estimated num-
Der of 1000 mines each month in the
waters of the entente allies, The ques
ton as to what becomes of the great
matority-those which do not accomplish
the object for which they were posted
is dealt with interestingly in a report
prepared by Read Admiral Desouy after
a careful calculation which includes fig
ures as to the mine carrying capacity of
submarines, the number of voyages of
submarines and mine layers, and the
number of mines located and destroyed.
Admiral Degouy believes that the pres
ence of these engines of destruction will
be a formidable danger for ships for sew
eraJ years after peace comes.
RISK PERPETUATED
quantities of mines" this navy Off
cial declares, ARE carried away from
their anchorage by the currents into wide
ocean, perpetuating the danger perhaps
but diminishing immediate risks; quaint
ties of others drift ashore where they are
Immediately made harmless; the fisher
men, whether they like not. and often
to their peril, capture great number in
their nets.
THE adjustment of the exploding APP
paratus of the engine is not so simple,
and its apparatus for stability at the
proper depth doesn't always work To
produce it's full effect the mine must be
held at depth of from three to five
yards. If the stabilizing apparatus doesn't
worok, it will descend too deeply or will
70 no w IL will he
readily discovered and destroyed Where
no stabilizing apparatus is used, floaters
are required, and they also are easily
discovered by good observers. Moreover,
mines too close to the surface have not
the maximum destructive effect
notwithstanding the conditions that
duce to very small proportions the mines
that really explode out of the 1900 laid
each year, they constitute a formidable
danger that will not disappear for several
years after the war is over All the
mines that drift to sea risk some day or
other encountering ship Such acct
dents have already occurred as in the
case of the French battleship Bouvet, de-
stroyed by drifting mine at the Darda-
nelles.
ALLIES HAVE NEW PLAN
1.-The logical defense against the sowing
of mines broadcast would be to go to
the origin of the evil-to strike the Ger
mans in their ports-demolish their pirate
nests and blockade their coasts so closely
no mine layer could pass. The allies,
| however, have adopted plan of action
that particular circumstances have direct
| ed and it is probably the most effective
possible, in spite of logical speculations
| that might indicate the contrary. History
alone can decide between the partisans
| of an active and an expective attitude.
| "As to the floating mines set adrift in
contradiction to the conventions of The
1 Hague, it would be well to watch more
| closely every supposed neutral cargo
| boat coming from northern European
waters, crossing the waters of the en-
tente powers or touching at our ports.
J Many mines also at high tide and with