JULY 11TH. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.

At 8.15 A.M. the life-boat station was informed that an air battle was imminent. A fresh westerly wind was blowing, with a rough sea. A few minutes later it was reported that an armed yacht ten miles S.E.

of Grove Point had been bombed and at 8.30 A.M. the motor life-boat William and Clara Ryland was launched. She could not find the yacht. Later, news was sent to her by wireless that an aeroplane was in distress ten miles S.E. of Portland Bill, but this also the life-boat could not find. All this time a big air fight was going on above the life-boat between very numerous German aeroplanes a n d B r i t i s h f i g h t e r s , a n d s h r a p n e l a n d machine-gun bullets were falling round her, but no one in the life-boat was hit. OneGerman aeroplane was shot down and fell within a few yards of the life-boat. She rescued one of its crew, but the others sank with the aeroplane, The life-boat returned to her station at 1.30 P.M. - Rewards, £3 15s..