New Quay, and Aberystwyth, Cardigan- shire.—At 9.23 in the morning of the 9th of January, 1952, the Fishguard coastguard telephoned the New Quay life-boat station that the tanker Audacity, of London, was in difficulties with a broken propeller sixteen and a half miles north-east by north of Bardsey Light and was drifting to the south-east, that the Trinity House vessel Argus was standing by her and that a tug had put out to take her in tow. All day the New Quay station kept in touch with the coastguard.

Meanwhile the Strumble Head coast- guard had informed the Aberystwyth life-boat station at 10.40, and at 11.30 the life-boatmen assembled. They stood by on shore all day.

At 7.5 that night the New Quay coastguard telephoned the New Quay life-boat station that the Audacity had drifted to a position seventeen miles north-west of New Quay Head. At 7.35 he reported that she was in dis- tress, and at 7.50 the life-boat St.

Albans was launched. A fresh north- westerly gale was blowing with a rough sea. The life-boat found that the motor vessel Alacrity had taken the Audacity in tow, so she returned to her station, arriving at 4.30 in the morning of the 10th.

The Aberystwyth life-boatmen had remained on duty until 9.30 at night, but had not launched as the New Quay life-boat had put out. At 10.30 in the morning of the 10th the Aberyst- wyth life-boat station learned from the Tenby coastguard that the Alacrity had taken the Audacity in tow, but that the tow-rope had parted. At 11.25 the news came that the tug had secured a wire cable, and for the fourth time had the Audacity in tow.

They were making steady progress forty-one miles north-east of Strumble Head, which was about four miles south-east of Aberystwyth Buoy, but should the tow part again they would be in a serious position, so at 11.50 the life-boat Aguila Wren was launch- ed. She wirelessed the vessels, but they replied that her services were not needed and she returned to her station arriving at 2.10 that afternoon.— Rewards, New Quay, £27 0*. 6d.; Aberystwyth, £28 18,9. 6d..