The British Admiralty, in an official communique issued yesterday week,
announced that the Germans' policy of mine- laying, combined with their submarine activities, bad made it necessary on military grounds for the Admiralty to adopt counter-measures. The Government had accordingly authorized a mine-laying policy in certain specified areas, and had established a system of minefields on a considerable scale. The action thus taken is perfectly consonant with the reservations made by the British Government in protesting against indiscriminate mine-sowing by Germany in the North Sea, while the limited character and specified area of the new mine-belt—which leaves passages for mercantile shipping on either side—are in strict accordance with international law. We note that, according to a Reuter telegram from Amsterdam, it is held in Dutch shipping circles that the measure, which appears principally designed for the protection of the Belgian eoast, will not seriously hamper Dutch shipping.
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