§ SIR THOMAS WRIGHTSON (St. Pancras, E.)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can say how many floating mines have been recovered from Chinese waters since his last statement to the House; and what, if any, measures are being taken to prevent neutral ships from coming within the zone of danger.
§ (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The number of floating mines which have been recovered from Chinese waters since the 15th ultimo is not known, but on March 23rd Sir Claude MacDonald telegraphed that the Japanese Navy were making efforts to remove floating mines from the waters of the Liaotung Peninsula, and that gunboats were daily sweeping for mines near Port Arthur and Newchwang. A notice has been issued to mariners, dated April 7th, warning them of the necessity of still keeping a constant look out for mines, especially in the approaches to any part of the Kwang Tung Peninsula and Newchwang.