§ LORD MUSKERRY rose "To call attention to the grave risks to life and property presented by the great number of floating mines in the China Seas outside territorial waters, and to casualties caused by such mines; to ask whether the Merchant Service Guild, as representing the captains and officers of British ships trading in the China Seas, has appealed to the Admiralty to co- 50 operate in the destruction of these mines; and to ask whether the Admiralty cannot depute those of His Majesty's ships on the China Station which are available, to undertake the work of removing, as far as possible, the serious dangers to British ships which now exist in that quarter of the globe."
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He said: My Lords, having been made acquainted with the facts, and the indignation felt by British subjects in the. Far East over the laxity of the Admiralty in this matter of floating mines, I am impelled to call your Lordships' attention to the necessity of some active steps being taken to meet the situation and to prevent that terrible sacrifice of life which might occur at any moment. Being so far away, we are liable, perhaps, to minimise the risks and to imagine that a stray floating mine or two cannot be helped at a time like this and that there, is no cause for commotion. But my information comes direct from people on the spot, and the Merchant Service Guild have placed in my hands papers which disclose a really very alarming state, of affairs. They come principally from those who are commanding and officering the many British ships constantly trading in the China Seas. I am assured, for instance, that the Gulf of Pe-chi-li is full of floating mines, and, at certain places, vessels must, at night-time, come to a dead stop until, daylight. Then, on starting, the look-outs are doubled with the captain and an officer on the bridge. Passing steamers are constantly reporting the mines. I have a letter from the captain of a steamer travelling in Chinese waters in which he says—
The latest reports show that mines have now drifted south of Shanghai in the track of the mail steamers from Hong-Kong; two fishing junks were blown up last week and most of their crews killed. The feeling here is that if a mail-boat is blown up, it may appeal to the Government and cause something to be done towards getting rid of these dangers. As long as it is only coasters it doesn't matter. There were fifty-seven steamers here (Newchwang) just before the port closed last December, and about fifty here just after it opened, as well as Japanese transports, and probably quite as many running to Taku Bar for Tientsin, all of which have to come through this dangerous zone. The principal companies do not run at night and so minimise the risk, at, of course, a great expense in the way of time. No less than seven mines were reported in Chefoo two days ago, all seen in a few hours.
§ I might state for the information of your Lordships that a British steamer, the "Kashing," had a hole blown in her bows by a floating mine and it was only a mere chance that the lives of all on board were saved. The question is, what is this country doing in the matter? So far as I understand, the Admiralty have done nothing beyond issuing warning notices to mariners. But these notices are almost superfluous, for the news soon spreads when it is a matter of life and death. We may rest quite con tent that navigators will exercise all the caution in their power, but as floating mines are not in the habit of giving a warning signal no amount of care can avoid risk of disaster.
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To voice some of the opinions expressed in Eastern circles the North China Daily News says in the course of an article—
Would it not be advisable, while the Gulf continues to be infested with these dangers to navigation, to station a small gun-boat here—in addition to the usual guardship—for the express purpose of searching out and destroying mines reported by passing ships? By so doing, our naval authorities would, I feel sure, confer a great boon on shippers and shipping engaged in the coasting trade, and also to the travelling public. The question becomes specially urgent and important when it is noted that the greater proportion of the northern trade is done in British bottoms.
Then, again, in a leading article headed "The Dangers of Mines" the same paper says—
It seems to us impossible, for instance, that British steamers should be running up and down the coast between the Yangtze and the Peiho, in hourly danger of being blown up by Russian mines with all on board, and that little or no effort should be made by the British Navy to clear away these dangers. The danger of mines has not been exaggerated, rather it has been the endeavour of everyone concerned to minimise the danger, for obvious reasons. No one wishes to unduly alarm passengers, and shippers, and insurers. Last year we were told that the anxious look-out men ware mistaking empty barrels and bully-beef tins and fishermen's buoys for mines; but this year there has been no possibility of pretending that the sea between the Miatou Islands, and a point some distance south of the South-East Promontory, is not strewn with these dangers. Many junks and fishing boats have fallen victims to them.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (The Earl of HALSBURY)Only by permission of the House.
LORD MUSKERRYVery well; I will pass over that, but this leading article sets out the matter very clearly, These remarks are intended to show what our fellow-subjects in the Far East think of the matter, and I should add that it was also referred to the British Minister at Peking by the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce and the leading steamship owners in China. As a contrast to the apathy of the Admiralty I am given to understand that even the Chinese have given orders for one of their cruisers to assist in destroying the mines.
There is no question of infringing on territorial rights, for these mines are now floating broadcast on the high seas. Why some of our men-of-war out there are not directed to sweep the seas for these mines I really cannot understand. Their time would then be spent in a service to humanity, and as their business is to police the seas, it seems to me that they are sadly neglecting that duty. I should, like to hear from my noble friend who is answering for the First Lord of the Admiralty precisely what the reasons are for the inaction of His Majesty's Government in this most serious matter. And I do indeed hope to learn that it is now the intention of the Admiralty to assist in a practical way in ridding the China Seas of dangers which give rise to possibilities almost too awful to think of.
Of course I cannot say what all the reply of my noble friend will be, but I think I can forecast a portion of it. There is a letter from the Admiralty to the Merchant Service Guild, from which I will read only some extracts—
The destruction of these mines in the waters of the Laio-tung Peninsula has been systematically undertaken by the Japanese and … the commanding officer has reported several cases in which mines have been destroyed by His Majesty's ships. This will be done whenever possible, but my Lords can not undertake to detail His Majesty's ships for this dangerous duty …But these mines have got beyond territorial waters, and it is a poor thing; for British ships to be trusting to foreign navies to protect them from these dangers when we have our own Navy on the spot. 53 I have also received a letter, which I will not read to your Lordships, from the captain of a vessel out there showing the number of mines that were met and the number destroyed. Then the last thing was a report from the officer commanding H.M.S. "Hogue," published in Lloyd's Register of July 3rd. I do not know whether my noble friend is going to read that report?
LORD MUSKERRYI have a letter received since then, one paragraph of which says—
No less than three steamers have struck mines since that gentleman (the commanding officer of H.M.S. Hogue) said most of the mines reported were empty tubs, etc. Two of the steamers were sunk and one was beached and repaired. The Chinese Government have now-offered a small gun and an officer or gunner to any ship bound up the Gulf of Pe-chi-li who cares to apply for one.I will not read further; I will only say that it is not a nice thing that for the first time in our history the British merchant service should have to look to foreign navies for the assistance which they ought to get from their own. My Lords, I beg to put the Question of which I have given notice.
THE MARQUESS OF LINLITHGOWIn answer to the noble Lord I have to state that the question of the risk to life and property through floating mines in the China Seas outside territorial waters has for some time past been occupying the attention of the Admiralty. A notice to mariners indicating the danger zone has been promulgated, and instructions have been issued to His Majesty's ships on the station to destroy any mines they may meet with on the high seas. The clearance of floating mines from territorial waters has been taken in hand by the Chinese and Japanese Governments. It is a fact that the Merchant Service Guild called the attention of the Admiralty to reports from certain captains trading in those waters representing the danger to navigation from this source, and asked that His Majesty's ships might take steps to clear away the mines; but the orders 54 given on the subject were not the result of this appeal, but of a previous communication from the Japanese Government inviting the co-operation of His Majesty's ships on the high seas.