DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

MARITIME DANGER ZONES. 35
of German mines, you are informed that a copy thereof
has been forwarded to the American Ambassador at
London for transmission to the British Foreign Office
without comment.
I am, etc.,
For the Secretary of State:
ROBERT LANSING.
Pile No. 841,801/33. -
Consul General Skinner to the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL,
London, December 11, 1914.
SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith a full copy
of a circular which I have received from the Admiralty
in regard to the navigation of the North Sea and English
Channel.
I have, etc.,
ROBERT P. SKINNER.
[Inclosure.]
NAVIGATION IN THE NORTH SEA AND ENGLISH CHANNEL.
It is requested that Shipowners on receiving these instructions
will use their utmost endeavour to communicate
them as confidentially as possible to the Masters of
their vessels, impressing upon them the necessity for
preventing the information from reaching the enemy.
These instructions should not be allowed to come into
the hands of any persons who are not directly affected
by them.
The previous Notice on Navigation in the North Sea
(dated the 14th October, 1914) is cancelled.
A. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS.
1. Local Naval or Military Authorities may, at any
time when they consider it necessary, close a port during
certain hours without previous warning.
2. Attention is called to the notice on the inside cover
of all Admiralty Sailing Directions and their Supplements,
and to the following Admiralty Notices to Mariners
of 1914:
No. 1 of 1st January.
No. 1528 of 14th September, Thames Approaches.
No. 1690 of 28th October, River Thames.
No. 1706 of 3rd November, Mined Areas.
No. 1727 of 7th November, River Mersey.
No. 1730 of 10th November, Orkney Islands.
No. 1752 of 16th November, East Coast Ports.
In the Notice to Mariners, No. 1752 of 16th November,
the position of the Pilotage station of the River Humber
to be established by the 27th November should read
"7 miles E. S. E. (magnetic) from Spum Point."
3. All lights may be extinguished and other aids to
navigation removed or altered at any time without
previous warning.