FEBRUARY 3RD. - FLAMBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. Shortly before 1 P.M. information was received from the Flamborough Royal Naval Shore Signal Station that a vessel was in distress off Flamborough with her boats out. An easterly wind was, blowing, with a rough sea. The motor lifeboat Elizabeth and Albina Whitley was launched at 1 P.M., and after going about two and a half miles E.N.E., found the S.S.

Mertainer, of Stockholm, in ballast, bound for the Tyne. She had been bombed and machine-gunned by enemy aeroplanes. and the crew, thirty-five in number, had taken to the boats. As they saw the life-boat approaching the master and several engineers returned to the Mertainer, and the mate handed the ship’s papers to the coxswain for safe custody. The second-coxswain and a lifeboatman went on board the steamer, and her crew were persuaded to return to her. The life-boat then put back to her station for more men and put three more on to the Mertainer to help her crew and give them confidence. Accompanied by the life-boat the streamer went on her way, but after a time the life-boat, finding everything to be all right, returned to her station, arriving at 5 P.M. With the second-coxswain of the lifeboat acting as pilot, the Mertainer arrived safely at Tynemouth the following day. - Property salvage case..