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mines were layed with the moored mines as the S.S. Chevychase was mined on the 9th March in this area while being swept through with the southbound convoy.
The Greek S.S. Niritos was mined in the searched channel north-east of the North Goodwin Light Vessel on the 11th March, and six mines were swept on the following day.
Magnetic mines were exploded off the Firth of Forth and in the approaches to Liverpool by M. Sweep, skids accounted for four in the Yarmouth area, and D.W.I. aircraft exploded two near the North Goodwin Light Vessel.
German Merchant Shipping.
13. During the week under review two German merchant vessels have been intercepted by H.M. ships. The S.S. Hannover (5,600 tons), which left Curacao on the 6th March was taken by H.M.S. Dunedin on the 8th March off the east coast of San Domingo. The Germans set fire to their ship and one boat with thirty-eight men escaped and landed at San Domingo, but Dunedin was able to put out the fire and tow the ship to Jamaica.
H.M. Armed Merchant Cruiser Maloja intercepted S.S. La Coruna (7,414 tons), on the 13th March, south-east of Iceland. This ship, which left Rio de Janeiro on the 3rd February, had disguised herself as the Japanese Taika Maru. She was scuttled by her crew, who were all picked up by the Maloja.
Three German merchant vessels left Curacao on the night of the 4th/5th March. S.S. Seattle 7,369 tons, S.S. Mimi Horn 4,007 tons, and S.S. Vancouver 8,269 tons. It was afterwards found that all cable communications from Curacao had been cut shortly before these ships broke out.
On the 13th March, S.S. Eschersheim 3,303 tons, outward bound from Bremen to Oslo with coal, reported she was sinking off the Danish coast.
Economic Warfare.
14. During the period the 4th to the 10th March, 163 ships, including 74 Dutch and 24 Italian, were cleared from the Downs. Reduction in the time taken to examine ships at contraband control bases in the United Kingdom is shown by the report that for the week ending the 2nd March, 33 ships were cleared within two days or less of their arrival.
As a result of the agreement with Italy regarding the export of German coal, four Italian ships at Rotterdam and one each at Amsterdam and Antwerp are discharging their cargoes of German coal, and are expected to return to Italy in ballast.
Western Front.
MILITARY SITUATION.
15. Patrol activity and artillery fire have been the only events during the period under review.
Germany.
16. The outstanding feature of the week's troop movements has been the strengthening of the forces (including heavy artillery) concentrated in the areas of the Eifel and Luxembourg frontiers. There is also some evidence of an increase in the forces on the Swiss frontier and in Vorarlberg (Austria).
Evidence from at least two good sources discounts recent reports of the presence of large numbers of German troops in the southern part of Russian- occupied Poland.
While there are constant reports of leave restriction and tightening of frontier regulations in the area of the Dutch frontier, these may well be part of a progressive defensive and counter-espionage policy.
Reported use of smoke screens for defence against air attacks.
17. There have been repeated reports concerning German trials of smoke screens for the screening of vital industrial areas from aerial observation or
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