FISHERMEN IN WAR TIME 



course, an ordinary hazard of patrolling duty. The 

 Hogue and Cressy, however, were sunk because they 

 proceeded to the assistance of their consort, and 

 remained with engines stopped endeavouring to save 

 life, thus presenting an easy and certain target to 

 further submarine attacks. The natural promptings 

 of humanity have in this case led to heavy losses 

 which would have been avoided by a strict adherence 

 to military considerations." 



The Secretary of the Admiralty added that it had 

 become necessary to point out, for the future guid- 

 ance of His Majesty's ships, that the conditions 

 which prevailed when one vessel of a squadron was 

 injured in a minefield, or was exposed to submarine 

 attack, were analogous to those that occurred in an 

 action, and that the rule of leaving disabled ships to 

 their own resources was applicable, so far, at any 

 rate, as large vessels were concerned. Small craft 

 of all kinds, however, should be directed by wireless 

 to close the damaged ship with all speed. 



The Germans claimed that the whole of the tor- 

 pedoing was done by one submarine ; but not a few 

 of the survivors declared that several submarines 

 were at work. In any case, three fine ships were 

 totally lost, with nearly 60 officers and 1,400 men. 

 Many of these brave sailors perished instantly, 

 others died in the water or from their injuries ; but 

 60 officers and 779 men were saved. Of that con- 

 siderable total no fewer than 156 officers and men 

 were picked up by Skipper Phillips and his crew in 

 the trawler L. T. Coriander ; these fishermen doing 



92 



