) The British loss was
nine millions, half as much again as was lost by all the rest of the
world put together. Raiders like the cruiser _Emden_, or the armed and
disguised merchant vessel _Moewe_, did a great deal of harm at the
beginning of the war, as we have seen already. Mines did even more
harm, and did it all through. But submarines did most.
Our title "Submarining" means any kind of underwater attack, by mines
as well as by torpedoes, so we must take a glance at the mines before
coming to the submarines.
Most mines are somewhat like big buoys with little horns all over the
top. Each horn ends in a cap which, when hit, sets off the charge.
Mines coupled together by a steel rope are more dangerous than two
separate mines would be, as they are bound to be drawn in against any
ship that strikes any part of the rope. The only safeguard a ship
could carry was a paravane. A paravane is made up of a strong steel
hawser (rope) that serves as a fender, and of two razor-edged blades
that serve to cut the mine-moorings free. It is altogether under water
and is shaped like a V, with the point jutting out on the end of steel
struts ahead of the bows, the two strokes running clear of the sides,
and their ends well winged out astern, where the two sharp blades stand
straight up, one from each end.
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