Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—A message was received from the coastguard at 8 A.M. on the 24th September, 1939, that a steamer was sinking through enemy action, three or four miles E. by N. from the look-out. A N.W.

breeze was blowing, with a heavy swell.

The motor life-boat Abdy Beauclerk was got away in nine minutes. In the meantime the crew of the steamer,some of them injured, had taken to the ship's boats. She was the Phryne, of Caen, of 3,500 tons, bound from Immingham to Bayonne, with coal, and carrying a crew of twenty-four.

After taking on board the whole of the crew the life-boat took the two boats in tow, and in response to a signal from the shore made a good landing to leeward of the slipway which had been badly scoured away. The life-boat was ashore at 9.40 A.M. and the injured members of the Phryne''s crew were sent by ambulance to Ipswich Hospital. A letter of thanks was received from the owners.—Rewards, £16 18*..