Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎15r] (29/176)

APPENDIX VII.
Precautions taken from 1915 to 1918 to Minimise the Risk of the Canal
being Mined or Blocked.
As a result of the mining of the “ Teiresias,” steps were taken to increase the
Naval and Military defensive arrangements as soon as the necessary material and
personnel were available. . .
2. Navigation in the southern part of the Canal where the bottom is in parts
rockv, was forbidden during the hours of darkness. p i n i
3 Armed guards were placed on board, during the passage of the Canal:
(a.) All ships under neutral colours.
(b.) Any other ship which, from the composition of the crew or other cause, tne
Examining Officer considered as not altogether trustworthy.
Vessels of well-known lines, sailing under British or Allied colours, were exempt
from guards. . . . .
4. The duty of the armed guard was to prevent, or in any case to detect, any
attempt to drop a mine into the Canal from the ship on board which they ^ re
embarked. In the event of an attempt being made to sink a ship m the Canal, they
would also have been able to prevent the wreckers escaping.
5. The orders to the armed parties contained the following information and
instructions :—
(id That the mine would necessarily have to be concealed during the stay of
the ship at Port Said or Suez.
(ii.) It would have to be brought out from its place of concealment before being
dropped overboard.
(Hi.) The most likely place from which a mine would be dropped would be
the extreme stern, but it would be possible to drop it from the side of
the ship.
(iv.) An attempt is more likely to be made at night than m the daytime.
(v.) The following acts should be regarded with suspicion and prevented
(a.) The opening of the hatches of the holds during the passage of the
Canal. . .
(5.) The bringing out from concealment of any bulky object which might
be a mine.
(c.) The dropping overboard of anything that might be a mine.
6. In the event of (c) happening before it can be prevented, the pilot should
immediately be informed, in order that the ship may be moored up, and traffic
stopped until the channel can be swept.
APPENDIX VIII.
Canal Defence Flotilla.
The duties of the Canal Defence Flotilla are :—
1. To prevent minelaying by the enemy.
2. To sweep certain channels daily.
3. To watch those parts of East Bank not defended by the Army.
4. To guard the approaches to Port Said.
Organisation of Patrol Craft.
(A.)—1. Guardship is anchored in the vicinity of Kilo. 118, and with her search
lights illuminates the waters North of Kabret.
2. Hopper 34 or 35 anchored in the vicinity of Kilo. 132 and with her searchlight
illuminates the Shallows between Kilo. 132 and Geneffe.
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