DEC. 21ST. - CROMER, NORFOLK. Information was received shortly before 2 A.M.

from the coastguard that a vessel had struck a mine near the Haisborough Light-vessel.

A light southerly wind was blowing, with a smooth sea, and the weather was clear and cold. The motor life-boat H. F. Bailey was launched at 2.10 A.M. and found the tanker Dosinia, with a crew of fifty-one. She had a heavy list to starboard and her four lifeboats were lying two on each side. Forty members of her crew - thirty-eight of them Chinese - were taken into the life-boat, which then stood by. The captain and officers remained aboard to see if it was possible to save the vessel. They dropped the anchor and the life-boat remained close by. When the daylight came a mine was seen drifting about half a mile away in the path of an oncoming convoy. The life-boat went towards the mine, signalled the leading ships of the convoy to alter course, and returned to the Dosinia, to be told that her back was broken. First the captain thought of beaching her. Then he decided to try and reach the Humber, and asked the life-boat to go with him, as all the ship’s boats had broken adrift. This the life-boat did, and at about 6.30 P.M., when they were off the Humber, the Dosinia was taken in tow by a tug. The life-boat then put the Dosinia’s crew on board her again. At the captain’s request she continued to stand by until 9.15 A.M. the following morning. She then returned to her station, arriving at 5 P.M. But for the presence and help of the life-boat it is probable that the vessel and her crew would not have reached safety. - Property salvage case..