FISHERMEN IN WAR TIME 



were definitely directed as to- what they should do, 

 the spokesman being the officer who had boarded the 

 Jane Stewart and had done most of the talking. 



By way of emphasising his remarks, the German 

 placed his arm round the skipper's shoulder — a con- 

 tact which could not have been very acceptable — and 

 spoke close to his ear. 



It was insisted that the remaining fishing vessels 

 should keep their lights burning until daylight, and 

 the fact was emphasised that failure to obey this 

 order would bring upon the offenders the prompt 

 vengeance of the submarine. That this threat would 

 have been instantly and ruthlessly carried out was 

 unquestionable, for after putting the men on board 

 the little vessel the submarine went away and pro- 

 ceeded to destroy other craft. 



The crews who had been forced to take temporary 

 refuge on the deck of the submarine had no food 

 with them, and on board the craft to which they had 

 been transferred there was little to be had ; but there 

 was, at any rate, the hopeful prospect of soon reach- 

 ing port and finding help, security and comfort. 



This welcome finish duly came to an adventure 

 of an uncommonly dangerous nature, for it was only 

 by sheer luck that a large number of the fishermen 

 did not lose their lives. In several cases the crews 

 were sent adrift in their little boats, some finding 

 refuge at last in the surviving fishing vessels, which 

 were already overcrowded, and some being picked 

 up by a patrol boat. 



The material loss as the result of this night's 



144 



