FISHERMEN IN WAR TIME 



removing the more severely wounded members of 

 his crew." Later Skipper Nichols went in a small 

 boat, and by plugging the holes which had been 

 made in the drifter's side enabled her to reach port. 



The records contained other little stories which, 

 though brief and incomplete, gave an insight into 

 what had been done in the Adriatic against over- 

 whelming odds. 



It was amazing that drifters had done so much 

 and cruisers so little, for the odds against the tiny 

 fishing craft were overwhelming. The drifter was 

 a mere toy on the water compared with the bulk of 

 even an enemy light cruiser, and the toy had no 

 protection in the shape of armour, no weapon ex- 

 cept one six-pounder gun. That disparity of force 

 must never be forgotten in considering the fight of 

 the drifters and cruisers in the Adriatic. 



There was a rousing display of courage and en- 

 durance by Engineman Charles Mobbs, R.N.R., 

 who stuck to his post until the main steam-pipe was 

 shot away. This meant, in the cramped space of a 

 drifter's engine-room, that Mobbs was in a death- 

 trap. He was forced to leave ; but his absence was 

 only temporary, and as soon as he could do so he 

 made his way back and put out the fires. 



Engineman Mobbs doubtless looked upon that 

 dangerous work as being merely part of his duty ; 

 but he did it nobly, and did more, for he went in a 

 small boat and helped to plug holes which had been 

 made in the vessel's side by enemy shots. By 

 doing these things Mobbs helped materially in 

 getting the drifter safely to port. 



158 



