EWARDS or thanks for the help of 'e-boats have been received during ie present year from the Governments "[ five foreign countries, Belgium, Jenmark, Finland, Italy and the Jnited States of America.

The Finnish Government awarded silver life-saving medals to the cox- swains of Barrow, Maryport and Ram- sey, Isle of Man, and bronze medals (Order of the " White Rose " second class) to the crews of the three life- boats in recognition of their efforts to help the steamer Esbo, of Helsingfors, which was wrecked off Bootle on 19th October, 1935.

The Government of the United States has awarded an inscribed gold watch to the coxswain at St. Ives, Cornwall, and £2 to each of the crew for the rescue on 2nd November, 1936, of thirty-three lives from the steamer Bessemer City, of New York, which "broke in two on the rocks. The American consul and vice-consul at Plymouth took part in the presenta- tion, and at the same time the consul handed a cheque for £28 to the branch.

The Belgian Government sent its thanks to the Penlee crew for their service to the trawler Vierge Marie on llth January of this year, and to the North Sunderland crew for the rescue of the crew of six of the trawler Roger Henri on 12th December of last year.

The Italian Government has sent its thanks to the Institution for the rescue of the crew of fifteen of the steamer Aida Lauro, of Naples, by the St. Ives motor life-boat on 1st July last, and the Italian consul-general has sent the thanks of his government to the cox- swain of the Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, motor life-boat for the rescue on 7th April last of the crew of twenty-nine of the steamer Luigi Accame, of Genoa.

The Danish Government has sent its thanks to the Institution for the rescue by the Anstruther motor life- boat on 13th April, of twenty-seven lives from the steamer Island, of Copenhagen..