London, Dec. 24.
Britain announced yesterday that it would Jaunch a mine-laying programme as a reprisal egamst German mine activity and "for the better prelection of vessels navigating in the Norih Sea", Declaring that British mines would be laid without further notice within defined areas, the Admiralty issued communique stating that "Germany has been guilty of laying automatically moored mines without notice in the North Sca outside territorial waters off the British coast"
"Consequently", the communique suid, "the Admiralty gives notice that it is their intention to lay mines for the better protection of vessels navigating in the North Sea off the east coost of England and Scotland".—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.