The startling damage which was done about a fortnight ago by the illegal laying of mi by Germans already appears to have undergone some diminution, and, now that the first elements of surprise have been passed, it would seem that the Allies have rapidly adjusted themselves to the changed conditions brought about, with the result that the mine menace has failed to assume the proportions which some people at first feared it would. That is not to say that a complete counter-measure has as yet been perfected, and further sinkings in reduced proportions may be expected, until one has. The quick mobilization of trawlers, etc., has already had a pronounced effect, and the mine menace looks like becoming of no more seriousness than that of the submarine. There is no indication that there has been any substantial interference with the steady stream of supplies to the Allies, and while it would be premature to state that all danger from the latest mining developments has disappeared, it is safe to believe that earlier estimates of the seriousness of the threat have baither been over-estimated, or that countermeasures have proved gratifyingly effective. It is probable that the Germans will seek to lay mines elsewhere than off the east coast and an element of surprise may still exist in indecision as to where they will seek to strike next, but it is interesting and pleasing to note that both submarines and mines have failed up to the present to take anything like the weekly toll 'h the German submarines alone took in the graver periods of the last war. The convoy tem has proved a complete success and the vast amount of tonnage belonging to the Allies moving daily on the seas does so with a minimum of risk considering all the circumstances. Recent figures issued by the Admiralty showing how losses have to a considerable extent been offset by new vessels taking to the water, seizure of German shipping and the bringing of other ships into operation, and on balance the damage done to the Allies in this respect is very much below the-highly optimistic estimates which have been published by the enemy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.