Alexander diary, 1917-1918 / Roy Alexander - Page 64
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[Page 64]
1917
Wed. 5th Sept.
Yesterday I left the hospital and came aft again.
She reached the entrance to the Straits safely and all night was busy mine-laying. "Wolf" laid the most complicated fields – she would run for 15 minutes and drop a couple of mines – would then go on again and drop a few more, etc.
She laid 110 mines, and it is a field which will not easily be swept up – last night's work is going to cost many lives.
As daylight came on the work was completed and the Germans cheered loudly on deck.
The mine-laying did not prevent me from sleeping well – even the cheers did not wake me.
This morning we saw a welcome sight through the holes in the bulkhead, - the mine-chamber was absolutely empty and our chances of being blown kite-high by a single lucky shot from a patrol-boat are much reduced.