REMOVAL OF THE NORTH SEA MINE BARRAGE 



123 



EXPLOSION OF A DEEP-LEVEL MINE) 



Due to the tremendous pressure of the water on top of the mines which were planted at 

 the lowest level, the force of the explosion was not sufficient to throw the water high into 

 the air, as is done by the upper-level mines. The shock of the explosion was felt immedi- 

 ately. The "'slick" did not appear until approximately thirty seconds later. 



It was an impressive sight to see that 

 armada, formed for sweeping, standing 

 up the mine field, the air reverberating 

 with the continuous roar of the explod- 

 ing mines, and simultaneously the glis- 

 tening pillars of white water springing 

 up behind the sweepers, poising for an 

 instant, and then disappearing. 



Still farther astern the fainter plop- 

 plop of the rifles and machine-guns could 

 be heard, as the chasers filled the floating 

 mines with holes. 



A SHORT-LIVED TRIUMPH 



The triumph of the day was contagious. 

 No casualties had occurred to mar the 

 inauguration of this new method of 

 sweeping, and it began to look as if the 

 solution of our difficulties had been ac- 

 complished. 



But the morrow held in store a flood 

 of catastrophes of every kind — the worst 

 day we should have to face during the 

 entire operations. 



The first victim was the Curlew, which 

 was crippled by the explosion of a mine 

 fouled in her kite and was forced to re- 



turn to Kirkwall for repairs. A few 

 minutes later three mines were counter- 

 mined beneath the Patapsco; but fortu- 

 nately the damage was not serious. 



The Penguin followed, with numerous 

 minor damages from a mine foul of her 

 kite, and the same thing befell the Wil- 

 liam Darnold almost at the same time. 

 Both ships were able to make temporary 

 repairs on the field and continued opera- 

 tions. 



The Lapzving was next. She was 

 seriously countermined and had to return 

 to port. 



Sub-chaser 46 exploded a mine while 

 sinking it, and was injured so badly she 

 could not remain at sea. 



A BATTLE WITH TPIE ELEMENTS 



As if such havoc were not sufficient 

 for a single day, six upper-level mines 

 were countermined beneath or close 

 aboard the Pelican. When the mass of 

 water had subsided and the vessel could 

 again be seen, she was sinking. Then 

 beffan one of the most remarkable strugf- 



