Moored to a sea mine

A WWI German sea mine being launched from the back of a ship.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166255579

Another story associated with the travels of the New Zealand Hospital Ship Maheno. As relayed in the Sydney Morning Herald Friday 12 September 1919.

MOORED TO A MINE.
TWO MEN IN A BOAT.
EXPERIENCE IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. 

Captain Cain, of the Union Steamship Company's new steamer Waitemata, which arrived from Calcutta, via ports, a few days ago, has had the thrilling experience of being "moored to a German mine." 

It occurred during the war, and the act was voluntary on the captain's part. 

"An officer, who was an eye-witness of the exploit, related the facts in Sydney yesterday; but Captain Cain himself, apart from admitting that "such an incident" took place, preferred to say little or nothing regarding it.  

During the war Captain Cain had charge of a patrol vessel in the Mediterranean, and eventually left his vessel in Egypt. His work being completed, he desired to return to England. He bad not been demobilised, and the Government would have arranged for his passage home, but, as the Union Company's steamer Maheno was then in port, be decided to try to return to England in her. 

He interviewed Captain Neville, of the Maheno, and as the latter was short of officers it was agreed that Captain Cain, and a fellow-officer who had been on active service with him, should be engaged for the run to England. 

Everything went well until the Maheno approached the entrance to the English Channel, when a floating mine was sighted. Captain Neville had nothing with which to explode the mine, and was unable immediately to get into wireless communication with the naval authorities. As the mine was right in the track of shipping, it constituted a serious danger. Even if the Maheno left it until her arrival in port the chances that some vessel I would strike the mine before it could be again located and destroyed were by no means small. 

Captain Cain accordingly came forward, and asked for the loan of one of the ship's boats, a length of rope, and some flare lights. These were granted, and Captain Cain and his friend left the steamer in the boat and pulled over to the mine. After making fast to the mine and paying out a fair length of rope, the two officers sat down to await the arrival of assistance. 

The Maheno left the men in the boat moored to the mine, and proceeded on her way to Southampton, where she reported the incident to the naval authorities. The exact locality of the mine was given, and a "P" boat was despatched at full speed to the scene. 

For between seven and eight hours Captain Cain and his friend remained with their boat bobbing about on the surface of the sea, and still tied to the instrument of destruction. Several steamers were sighted, but no signals were made to any of them, as it was feared that they might not he able to avoid the mine if they were induced to approach the boat. 

As It grew dark the flare lights were got ready in case of the approach of a steamer, but some time after darkness had closed in a searchlight commenced swooping the water in the vicinity of the boat. This was from the "P" boat which had been sent out at the request of Captain Neville. 

Before long the "P" boat arrived, picked up the two men, and, after exploding the mine, was soon racing back to port with Captain Cain and his friend on board.