The sun., 1918-10-28
U. S. MINE BARRIER
CURBS SUBMARINES
Daniels Shows How Their
Radius Has Been Greatly
Restricted.
LARGE FIELDS ARE LAID
-
More Than $40 Concerns in
This Country Had Part in
the Construction.
IARGE FIELDS ARE LAID
Special Despotch 10 THr SRI

SPECIAL Despdfch 10 THE SUv
WARRINGTON. Oct. 81. -- That the
American navy has been playing an all
important role in choking off the egres,
OF German submarines from their home
bases to the Atlantic was revealed for
the FIRST time to-day by Secretary Dan.
iels. In cooperation with the British
navy n gigantic ordnance construction
plan known as tho North Sea mine bar.
rier has been perfected and carried out.
barring many OF the most important
routes to the U-boats.
For this project" said Secretary
Daniels, "a new and improved type OF
mine was invented. many thousand,
manufactured and transported overseas.
large bases were established abroad for
assembling the issuance to mine plan;-
ers, a fleet OF mine layers was sent ard
has been maintained in foreign waters,
a score OF merchant vessels were fitted
out and have been engaged in trans
portation of the materials from this
country and mine loading plant with a
capacity OF more than a thousand mines
n day was erected and has been Ia
operation for many months
Plans for a North Sea barrier were
first submitted to the Navy Department
on June ~, 1917, about two months
after America entered the war Ad-
miral Benson. chief of naval operations
at once saw the possibilities OF the plan
and work was undertaken without delay
A mine particularly adapted for use
against submarines was approved on
July IS and on July 80 plans for
Britlsh-American joint offensive opera.
tiop were draw un
When Admiral Mayo, commander IN
chief Of the Atlantic battleship feet.
N.x t,, I,
ried with him the plans which had the
approval of Secretary Daniels. The
British Admiralty made some modiflca-
tons, but approved the general outline
OF the undertaking. and when Admiral
Renson returned in September he brought
dfders to proceed with the procurement
Of the mines.
AT first some officials looked upon The
plan as impracticable," Secretary Dan
iels said to-day, mainly on account Of
the immense amount of material re-
qulred and the inadequate number Of
mine layers available. But these dim
culties were overcome and the British
and American authorities agreed upon
the plan which has been put into effect
ITO obtain the new mine in large
quantities and to preserve due secrecy
regarding its characteristics a radical
departure from usual manufacturing
methods was adopted. Naval plants
did not possess the facilities for manu-
featuring more than ! 900 month and
these plants were congested with other
war work
The expedient therefore was adopted
of subdividing the mine into its many
elements and having these elements MADE
in different commercial plants. all tie
parts to be finally brought together and
assembled into finished mines at a mine
depot. The work was divided among
about 140 principal contractors ard
more than 400 subcontractors The
major portion OF the work was done IN
automobile plants.
While the mine itself was being
placed in production number Of SHIPS
were converted into mine planters. q
mine charging plant with a capacity ot
1000 mines a day was erected 20 Dad
the mines, an important railroad ship
ping pier was taken over for the ham
ding OF mine material and other nelts.
saTy arrangements made.
Abroad mine depots were fitted ont
for the assembling OF mines auI the"
issuance TO the mine planters. a feet ~
more than twenty merchant vessels
taken over by the navy and httoi out
for the sole purpose of Transporting mine
material overseas
Capt, r. II. Belknap accomplished the
work OF procuring. fitting oIt and o.
ganizing the vessels for mine p7r'inS
The task OF fitting of mine bases on shore
abroad was intrusted TO CAPT %, u
Murfin, who proceeded overseas IN NJ
vember 1917. The arrangements for 'he
receipt of the various parts Transports
ton and final assembly were made zap
and automatic and on n scale ueE,' Ice
fore attained in such work From
American ports material went 7.rgs'
early in February. Since that time tlt-s
has been constant succession 81 -y,A
shipments. and only one vcSsc! carr ''-
mine material has been sunk uy sl''
marines"