356 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



It is easily conceivable that such a cruiser, in time of 

 sudden stress, might inflict a very serious blow upon an 

 enemy. The North Sea is a fog-infested area of water, 

 and under cover of a fog an invading force might seek 

 to make a descent upon our eastern shore or southern 

 coast ; her transports, crowded with troops, might, and 

 easily could, lose touch with their convoy, and the 

 cruiser might have the opportunity to fall upon and 

 destroy the transports ruthlessly. But, apart from any 

 such dramatic possibility, she would serve her purpose 

 well by acting as a floating school and barracks for the 

 North Sea Auxiliary. 



In connection with this North Sea Auxiliary I would 

 advocate the inclusion, as floating hospitals, of the 

 vessels which fly the flag of the Royal National Mission 

 to Deep Sea Fishermen. These stout little ships would 

 be valuable and welcome additions to the sick-bays and 

 hospitals of the warships, and it might well be that an 

 action could be continued or resumed by reason of the 

 ability of an admiral commanding a fleet to get rid of 

 his wounded by transferring them to the Mission's 

 hospital vessels. These craft, with the help of a subsidy, 

 could be fitted to accommodate a considerable number 

 of cases enough at any rate to relieve very greatly the 

 pressure on the surgical staff of the fighting fleet. 

 Equipped with wireless apparatus, they could be sum- 

 moned promptly to the scene of action, or near it, in 

 readiness to obey a call when given. 



An undoubted prejudice exists in some quarters 

 against the incorporation of North Sea men as a section 

 of the Navy ; and even amongst those naval officers who 

 know fishermen well, the hostility prevails to the extent 



