HEAVY DEMANDS MADE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22909, 4 January 1940, Page 3

HEAVY DEMANDS MADE

. . -—♦ v ■ , LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION'S WORK REVIEWED (bbithh ornciAi. wißwass.) RUGBY,. January 2. The exceptionally heavy demands made on the services of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution during the last four months because of the brutal and indiscriminate use of mines and torpedoes By Germany, are reflected in a review published to-day of the year's work of this great voluntary society. The institution, '. which maintains a fleet ot lifeboats and life-saving apparatus round the British coasts and is served by fisherman crews, is. entirely supported by voluntary contributions; , During 1939, 1356 lives were saved, constituting a record in the history of the fnstitutipn, the previous highest figure being 1348, 1917. To effect these rescues, Jife-boats : were launched on 677 occasions. Most of these launches and the consequent rescues have "been effected during lince 'September 2, boats have been out on 411 occasions and have rescued 1101 persons, an average ot 64 each war week; Twenty-fout medals for gallantry were awarded during the .year to members of the, lifeboat crews. / : ■■-..■ '.' The institution put into service 17, Hew niotor lifeboats during the year and there are now 145 of these and 15isaUing lifeboats stationed round j the British and Irish coasts. |