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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



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A COUNTERMINE (SEE PAGE 112) 



When least expected, the sea, with a mighty roar, would oftentimes belch up a pillar of 

 white, shattered water. The cause of countermining could never be determined. Occurring 

 always when least expected, this was a constant source of danger to the vessels in the field. 



turned to port they were under way again 

 for the mine field. Not much rest after 

 27 days at sea, where Sundays and holi- 

 days were omitted from the calendars. 



The buoying of the little Group 12A 

 had been successfully completed, and 

 seven hours and forty minutes after the 

 sweepers began not a single mine re- 

 mained. 



It seemed incredible, impossible, that 

 this could be true ! Ordinarily it would 

 have taken us five times that long. 



Here indeed was real cause for jubila- 

 tion. The enthusiasm of the force was 

 unbounded, and for the first time it be- 

 came possible to foresee the end of our 

 task. 



an impressive SIGHT 



By this time the buoying of the large 

 Group 11 was far enough advanced for 

 the sweeping to begin immediately. 



On they came, 24 sweepers, 10 trawl- 

 ers, and an equal number of the little 

 sub-chasers. 



