East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-18
Clearing OF NORTH
SEA NINE COMPLETED,
4 AMERICA AIDS WORK
u. S. Navy Insisted on Barrage
Against Germany and Helped
in Laying 10000 Explosives
in ''Deutschland's" Path.

WASHINGTON Oct. 1S=The clear
ing of the North Sea mine field has
been accomplished. As America i'm
sisted on this harrage against the
Germans and contributed to laying 1t
Gown, so she has done her share by
way of finishing the job. Secretary of
the Navy Daniels acknowledged this
terse military message from Read
Admiral Joseph Strauss commander
OF the Mine Forces of the Atlantic
Fleet.
Finished sweeping North Sea bar
rage of American mines.'
From the armistice until early last
spring the Navy Department laid its
plans fer gathering up the mines II
had sowed Then the mine Sweep
ing fleet of four thousands officers
and seamen steamed into Kirkwall.
whence it began the work of sweep
ing up 10000 American mines. 1t
has been completer. and while ac-
counts of the work have been meagre.
It has come to light that there have
been several casualties, and that the
tales of heroism will rival the most
valorous accomplished of the war.
10000 Mines
To lay this field of mines and pre-
vent the operation of German SUBJ
marines out of the North Sea was |
Herculean task. People in this coun-
try remember that the first German |
transatlantic submarine Deutsch-
land stole out of the North Sea under
the nose of the British through the
passage between Scotland and Scandi-
navia. With American boys being
tt-a, Al.
millions, President Wilson was unwill-
ing to take this chance on the subs"
and insisted that the north passage
of the sea be blocked. Immediately
plans were developed by the Navy and
the work Of laying down 10000 mines
started. The American forces laid
$4,000 of these. This practically put
an end to German operations through
this opening, as it was almost impossi-
Bile for an unwarned ship to make
massage. and it was upon the know
ledge of this successful blotting NJ,
that Admiral Jellicoe predicted the
actual control of the German sub
Task Hazardous
After the armistice came the work
nf clearing the mines. rated as ons of
the most hazardous undertakings of
the war. Rear Admiral Strauss, who
had directed their laying, was chosen
to clean them out.
In the British Navy men are given
special bonuses for mine operations
and additional bonuses for every mine
cleared. In our Navy the men work
for the honor of America and th=
American Navy, and when they go
'ut to invade a mine field they go out
y ride over tons of destruc-
lion that explode. not by contact, but
~ contagion. All a vessel has to do
$ to get within a vicinity of the lat
sst type of American mine. and
Blung.-up she goes. A column of
llabester rises from a vast sea base
If pade. the seams of the ship are rip
Jed open and often the craft or parts
# the craft itself are hurled skyward.j 4
12 Casualties
This is what the American mine
weeper had to brave. The ships OF
he fleet were fitted with an electri-l
al device than ~minimized mine ac- :
ion to a certain extent and careful
handling of the craft and cautious :
perations avoided any great number :
# casulties. Two officers and ten :
men are the known casualties. The :
ew stories that have drifted back
rom the isolated fleet indicate these .
casualties have been principally :
morg officers and volunteers who :
ave gone out into imminent DANCE: :
hernselves after ordering other mem, =
ers Of the crews out of the danger :
one.