The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-06-27
:: Laying The Mines :: ::

Now in the open seas, the ten mine
layers formed in two columns. abreast
of each other and five hundred yards
apart, and started for the waters OF
the barrage Twelve destroyers sur
rounded them, on the lookout for sub
marines, for the ships were now in the
track of the U-boats bound for their
hunting ground or returning TO their
home ports. At flash from the flag
ship, all slackened speed, and put out
their paravanes-those under water
outrigger affairs protected the ships
from mines It was not at all unlikely
that the Germans would place some OF
their own mines in this field, for the
benefit OF the barrage builders; not
only this but 1t was not entirely I'M
possible that we might strike stray
mine of our own. This operation took
only few minutes; then another flasn
and the squadron again increased lts
speed. 1t steamed the whole dis
lance across the North Sea to Udslre
light. then turned west again ana
headed for that mathematical spot on
the ocean which was known as the
nstart point"-the place, that is, where
the mine laying was to begin In car
rying out all these manoeuvers-
sighting the light on the Norwegian
coast-the commander was thinking
not only of the present, but OF the
future; for the time would come
after the war had ended, when II
would be necessary to remove all these
mine. and it was therefore wise 70
.fix,' them as accurately as posslDle
in reference to landmarks, SO as 70
know where to look for them. All TINS
time the men were at their stations
examining the mines TO see tnal sveiy
thine was ready, testing the laying
mechanisms and mentally rehearsing
their duties. At about four o'clock
On inportant signal came from the
1Iagshin: have everything ready for
the squadron will reach start point
a. an hour and mine laying will be-
gin, I'D 60 this time the ships were
sailing in two columns; when they
came within seven miles OF start
point" another signal was broken
ont: the ships all wheeled like com
many Of soldiers, each turn lg Sharply
n the right, so that in few minutes
instead OF two columns, we mad elshl
ships in line abreast, with the re-
rraining two, also in line abreast,
calling ahead of them. This splendid
arrav. keeping perfect position ap-
preached the starting point like nne
~ race horses passing under the Wire
MOI q shin was off this line by SO
much as a quarter length - the whole
atmosphere was one OF eagerness' the
officers all had their eyes fixed upon
the stern of the flagship. for the
glimpse of the red flag which wouio
he the signal to begin. Suddenly the
flag went up. and the signal cams
from the flagship:
First mine over.
r. Won had been following one O
these ships, you would probably have
haen surprised at the apparent sim
nl,citv of the task. The vessel was
going at its full speed; at intervai'
Of a few second huge black opJect
about five feet high, would Of
observed gliding toward the stern
at this point 1t would pause for sec
ord or two, as though SUSPENDED u
air: then it would give mighty lurch
fall head first into the water, senoins
up a great splash, and then SINK De
meath the waves. BY the tune IN
disturbance was over the snip Woui'
hava advanced a considerable dis
lance; then, in few seconus' an
o+bar black object would roll towar'
n.
disanpear. You might have foliowe'
tha same ship for two or three hours
s,.atobinp these mines fall over boar
- ;ntervals of about fifteetr seconds
There were four planters. each
which could and did on several TRIP
Law about sc mines in three hours an
tbirtv-fiye minutes. in single III
about forty-four miles long. Thes
were the Canadaigua, the Canonicu'
tbe Housatonic, and the Roanoke. oe
casionally the monotony of this pro
cedure would be enlivened by terri
HE explosion, a great geyser OF Wale e
rising where a mine had only recenti
disappeared: this meant that u
.arr" as the sailors called IL, ma
cone off spontaneously. without y
ass,stance of any external contac'
spontaneously. without the asslstah.
NJ any external contact: such acciden,
were part of the game, the recoro
showing that about a per cent OF
n,ines INDUCED in such initial prema
.,,,a axnlosions. For the most par
reviewer. nothing happened to distuI
Az steady mechanical routine. IT
s,;nas went over with such regularl'
.hat "a an observer. the whole PR
ceedinr seemed hardly the work
human agency. Yet every detaii n az
hsen arranged months before IN q
IYnited states: the mhes fell into q
sea in accordance with time tab
which had been prepared in 'Newpo
before the vessels started for SEQ
land. Every man on the ship had
particular duty to perform and eas
performed it in the way In when
had been schooled under the able
rection OF Captain Belknap.
The mine spherical case. which co,
tains the explosive charge. and Z
mechanism for igniting 1t. Is only
mart of the contri,ance. While at re
on board the ship this case stan
upon a box like affair. about two re
square. known as the anchor; II
anchor sinks to the bottom ait
launching and it contains an elaoora
Arrangement for maintaining the mi
at any desired depth beneath the So
face. Tho bottom OF the "achor" h
four wheels. on which 1t runs aio'
\ IL t1>>g 1f ~