Seaplane which flew over south. eastern England during the past two days Tale mines by, means of parachutes, it was reported. 'These Were magnetic mines and. fell in the 'Thames estuary and of the southern 'This new technique, naval quart pointed out, explains' the persistence the mine danger' in that region, where a German seaplane was ser Moat a fow days ago.
An eye-witness reported that from the Essex coast he saw two Big black aircraft, tying ata very low attitude near the const, dropping a number of Black objects which did not explode Upon touching the water. "The planes, added, cruised. over the. Waters after accomplishing this. task unt 4 searchiigat'on shore found them out and RAP. pursuits were sent after them—Haves.
Tokyo Embassy Statement 'Tokyo, Nov. 24, 'Int has been established by. the [British Admiralty that German' alr feratt laid "mines in. five different localities off the east coast of England after dark on the nights of November 20 nnd 21," states an official announcement issued here this morning by the British Embassy, "It is thus,_made perfectly cleat' it continues, "that the mines laid this manner are responsible for the severe losses of British and neutral skipping which recurred during the ast ow, days in these accas. The British Embassy 1 authorized to add hot it has Jong been suspected that seine such method was bel. the German forces. to [Sach breaches of interna: may temporarily Gamage neutral shipping, but now that Who mehed has ly ascestanied be taken to counteract Ii."—Revier, verification of the identity of noutral vessels would be thus intensified.
Naval quarters here are convinced that the mine menace will be countered within six or seven days by the creation and multiplication of new mine-sweeping methods, notably the use of wooden boats equipped with steel rafts, Responsible circles here expect a violent German air offensive against British factories, harbours and all important centres without consideration of loss of civilian life. The British air force ig fully capable of repulsing these attacks and Britain would take reprisals at sea but without entailing any loss of life or ships as in Germany's methods of warfare.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.