Plymouth, Devon.—At 1 A.M. on the 4th August it was reported that a motor boat, the Spitfire, with seven people on board, had put out during the previous afternoon and had not been heard of since. There was a dense fog, which made an immediate search impossible, but at 2.45 A.M. the fog lifted a little, and the motor life-boat Robert and Marcella Beck put out.

The sea was calm and there was no wind. Some time after the life-boat had put out the Spitfire came in.

Recall signals were made, but were not seen by the life-boat, which continued her search. Shortly after 5 A.M. she found the motor boat Barbara, with a man and two women on board, in difficulties off Mewstone, and unable to get ashore. The three people were taken on board the life-boat and given hot coffee, and the Barbara was taken in tow. The life-boat, after another search for the Spitfire, put into Plymouth, where the people were handed over to the St. John Ambulance Brigade. The life-boat returned to her station at 6.50 A.M. The owners of both boats sent letters of thanks and donations.—Rewards, £11 8*..