Nov. 26TH. - LERWICK, AND AITH, SHETLANDS. At 2.45 A . M . a message was received at Lerwick from the coastguard that the Swedish steamer Gustaf E. Ruter, of Gotenburg, was under observation fourteen miles W.N.W. of Fair Island. A whole gale galwas blowing from the W.S.W., with a rough sea, and the steamer was moving south at three knots. The coastguard said he would keep the life-boat station informed. At 5.20 A . M . , another message was received asking that the life-boat should go to the steamer’s help., and giving her position as seven to ten miles south-west from Sumburgh Head. At 6 A.M. the motor life-boat Lady Jane and Martha Ryland was launched. At 10.30 A.M. the life-boat was recalled, as a message had come that two trawlers were standing by the steamer and a tug was expected. The life-boat returned to her station at one-thirty in the afternoon.

Meanwhile fresh information about the steamer’s position had been received, and the senior naval officer asked that the life-boat should put out again at once. The life-boat had first to be refuelled, and the men to get a hot meal, so, in order to avoid any delay, it was decided to ask the Aith life-boat The Rankin to put out. This she did at 2.10 P.M.

It was still blowing a full W.N.W. gale, with an exceptionally heavy sea. The position of the Swedish steamer was now given as fifteen miles W.S.W. of Fitful Head.

The life-boat searched a wide area, but found nothing. She then received a message from the Lerwick life-boat, which was acting as shore signal station, giving a new position twelve miles away from the last. The Aith life-boat continued her search. She searched through the whole night and early morning, but found nothing. She was then recalled by the senior naval officer at Lerwick. She returned to her station at 8.30 P.M. the followrewards, ing day, 27th November, having then been at sea for over thirty hours in very trying conditions.

Next day, the 28th November, at 10.45 in the morning, the Lerwick station received the news from the senior naval officer that the steamer was ten miles from Sumburgh Head, that she had been damaged by enemy action, and that she was in need of immediate help.

Attempts had been made to tow her, but the tow rope had broken. A tug was standing by. A strong wind from the N.N.W. was now blowing, and the sea was rough. At 11.15 in the morning the Lerwick life-boat was again launched. When she reached the position given she could see nothing except smoke to the south-east. She made for it and spoke a trawler which gave the steamer’s position still further to the south-east. At last, at 3.45 in the afternoon, the life-boat found the steamer. Her fore-end, including the fore-mast, had been blown away, and her wireless aerial had been put out of action, which had interfered considerably with the sending out of messages. Nineteen members of the steamer’s crew had already been taken off by a trawler and fourteen were still on board. They were rescued by the life-boat, which returned to her station at 9.20 P.M.

that night, 28th November. The owner made a gift of £24 to the life-boatmen at Lerwick.- Rewards : Lerwick, first service, £9 3s. ; second service, £22 3s. : Aith, standard rewards, £40 14s. 9d. ; additional rewards, £8. Total rewards, £80 0S. 9d..