THE CALL TO ARMS 



which it would not have been possible to perform 

 the almost miraculous, acts which were recorded in 

 connection with the conve3 r ance of vast armies over- 

 seas and the guns, ammunition and supplies of every 

 sort, without which those armies would have been 

 impotent. 



The trawlers and drifters which were taken over 

 by the Admiralty were hired on certain terms, and 

 some interesting details relating to the hire of traw- 

 lers were given in the House of Commons in reply 

 to a question as to the rate paid for the trawlers 

 Southern Prince and Ben Arthur, employed in the 

 Tyne examination service. It was stated that the 

 present rate of payment for* the use of these vessels 

 was £475 each per month. The original cost of the 

 Southern Prince was £7,200 and of the Ben Arthur 

 £7,000. The total sum paid up to March 31, 1916, 

 for each vessel was approximately ^8,200. This 

 included the cost of coal, insurance, stores and re- 

 pairs, the wages of double crew, and liability for re- 

 placement if either vessel was withdrawn for any 

 reason. It was not considered that it would be in 

 the public interest for the Department to buy the 

 boats, with all the attendant liabilities. 



These details showed that the authorities did not 

 requisition fishing vessels without making what was 

 at least adequate payment ; indeed, it happened that 

 fine vessels which had been taken over for Admi- 

 ralty purposes, and were doing good work, were in 

 course of time paid for at a considerably higher rate 

 than that at which they had been originallv secured. 



43 



