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Show BRITISH ADMIRALTY , REFUSES TO RESORT ' TO THEJSE OF MIHES J London, Sept. 9.Th0 destruction of the British cruiser Pathfinder 3 other vessels by mines has provoked muchs discussion regarding protection against mines. Sir Arthur Conan Doylo and ethtr prbmlnent men hnve written lotttrs I to tho papers Inquiring why devices ? wcro .not used to -save ships jrrn ' minesj- 1 Tho British admiralty has long been investigating equipment of the explosion of mines boforo ships str.ke them. Moro than 1000 devices for this purposo Jinve been ofTered in, England, but like the navnl exports of other nations tho British have found all effective equipment so heavy as to retard the speed of vessels. Nets strong enough to resist the pros'. sure of water and discharge mines offer such resistance that their uso Is Impossible As a consequence It is explained, the British, Uko other nations, na-tions, havo found mlno sweepers the only satisfactory way to clear the seas of explosives. Two small boats dragging a heavy wire rope between them are used foB the purpose of clearing the steamer routes. Scores of these are at work In tho North sea. Germany is not a signatory to The Hague convention forbidding th6 use of mines, therefore there-fore England, which is at war with Germany could use mines without violating Tho Hague convention. Tho British admiralty, however, announces announc-es that It refuses to resort to mines. 1 |
