LIFEBOATS OUT

Evening Star, Issue 20995, 8 January 1932, Page 9

LIFEBOATS OUT

GALE !H ENGLISH CHANNEL SKIPPING IN TROUBLE (British Officii! Wiroleae.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. RUGBY, January C. The first of a scries of storms, which, according to forecasts, aro approaching from the Atlantic, swept southern England to-day. Shipping was severely buffeted in the English Channel, and several mishaps have been reported.

The Southend lifeboat rescued the crew of a motor barge, which immediately afterwards foundered in the Thames estuary. The crew were in an exhausted condition.

In the Medway a long boat attached to tho destroyer Whirlwind was capsized and one seaman was drowned, while five were saved. Lifeboats were out in answer to calls along the south coast, and when the storm was at its height several vessels wore hove to. Two lifeboats aro standing by the 4,500-ton Greek steamer Alexander, which is aground at Dungeness Bay. The steamer Jersey City, of 6,322 tons, was reported to he drifting this afternoon off Scilly Isles with her engines broken down. A smaller coaster was standing by while repairs were being effected. The destroyer Vendetta developed engine trouble off Southsca and was towed into Portsmouth.

The departure from Portsmouth of tho Atlantic Fleet on its spring cruiso has been delayed until to-morrow owing to the gale.