Sea Mine Menace

Nato mine countermeasure ships began a major effort Oct.17 to clear northern European waters of mines left over from World World 11, eliminating a threat to navigation and commercial fishing off the coast of the continent. French officials said that navies have found and destroyed about 15 percent of the mines laid in the two wars by England,France, Germany and other nations. Nato warships have found some 56 mines so far in 2007, mostly in the Baltic Sea. A mine was discovered in August in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol about 500 yards away from the U.S. destroyer Forrest Sherman, which was in port for a training visit.