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H.M.S. Vernon for investigation. It is thought that delayed release mines and explosive cutters have also been laid in this field. A further group of Oropesa trawlers have been sent to Falmouth from Portsmouth to strengthen the mine- sweeping forces in the Western Approaches.

17. On the 4th October sweepers ahead of a convoy swept and exploded contact mines at the southern end of the Downs, west of the Goodwin Light Vessel. It is presumed that E-Boats had laid a minefield there the previous night. The searched channel was swept without result, and then bad weather held up sweeping operations for over a day. On the 7th October three mines were cut and two exploded in the sweeps, and later that day a dangerous area was declared, as a casualty had occurred which appeared to be due to a delayed release mine. Next day another mine was exploded but again bad weather interrupted operations. Ships will have to be swept through until the channel can be considered thoroughly clear.

18. During the week LL Sweeps have exploded one magnetic mine in the Tongue area, two in the Barrow Deep and two in the Humber area.

The magnetic mine total on the 9th October was 684, the contact mine total was 570, and the Accoustic" mine total was 22.

An R.A.F. high-speed launch exploded what is thought to have been an "accoustic" mine inside the Humber on the 7th October, suffering considerable damage. H.M.S. Malcolm exploded one in the Barrow Deep on the 8th October, while proceeding at twenty-five knots: many ships in convoys proceeding at slow speed had previously passed over this mine without detonating it.

Mediterranean.

19. During the week five contact mines have been swept between the Grand Harbour and the Marsa Scirocco, Malta, and in the declared dangerous area. This dangerous area has now been cancelled.

French Colonies.

20. French merchant ships from French colonial ports on the Atlantic are at present being convoyed through the Straits of Gibraltar. The escorting ships then leave the convoy and return westward, while the convoy continues inside territorial waters. Ships may perhaps leave territorial waters at some point east- ward of the Straits, but it has been reported that some continue inside to Oran or Algiers, where their cargoes are transhipped for Marseilles.

The cargoes from Casablanca are said to be mostly maize, barley and skins.

U.S.S.R. New Construction.

Battleships.

21. The hull of one of the battleships building at Leningrad is about one-third completed. The tonnage of these battleships has been stated by the Soviet authorities to be 45,000 tons.

Cruisers.

22 The hulls of two new cruisers, probably of 7,725 tons, are about 40 per cent. completed at Leningrad. Two cruisers of this type are believed to have been under construction since the end of 1937, and, having regard to the difficulties that the Russians are known to have had in their cruiser construction, it is possible that these hulls are the same. On the other hand, as the cruiser Maxim Gorki was completed in three years, it seems reasonable to suppose that these cruisers are considerably more than 40 per cent. completed.

Work on the ex-German cruiser of the Hipper class has been begun, notably on the support of No. 2 turret and on midship superstructure, as well as between decks. It can be safely assumed that this cruiser has been turned over to the Russians for use in their navy, and that there is no idea of the Baltic Shipbuilding Yard being utilised by the Germans as a safe place in which to complete the construction of this vessel.

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