LETTERS TO - THE EDITOR.
[Letters -of the length of one of our leading paragraphs are often more read, and therefore more effective, than:those which fill treble the space.]
THE -WORK OF ' U '-BOATS.
[To um EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."1
Snt,—Among -the -many appeals being made for institutions affected by the war, the pressing claims of the Shipwrecked Fisher,- men and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society, of which I .have the honour to- be President, scarcely appear to have secured the prominence to whiCh its national importance entitles. it. "Althortgai founded in peaceful times (1839), and originally intended to benefit the seafaring classes suffering from the onslaughts of wind and waves, for nearly three years the Society's resources have been strained to the uttermost through conflict with even more deadly and relentless foes, the additional expenditure thereby involved .amounting, since the war commenced, to ever £40,000. Not to weary:your readers with statistics, I will merely call attene tion to the fact that since January 1st last, besides aid given to a large number of widows and orphans of men lost at sea, we Lave assisted no fewer than 13,624 shipwrecked persons, the disasters being, in almost every instance, due to the enemy's action. Our work has several distinctive features, one of which is that we encourage thrift on the part of sailors and fishermen, by means of a beneficiary system securing advantages to them and their dependent relatives in virtue of small annual payments. I may also say that it has always been one of our fundamental principles to provide for the necessities of destitute men of all nationalities landed on our coasts, and that, notwithstanding the overdraft of nearly 410,000 with which our Committee is now confronted, wo hope to continue the carrying on of this work, as well as of our other measures for relief of maritime distress. With these objects in view, I appeal very earnestly for contribu- tions, which will be gladly received at this office by our Secretary, Mr. Gerald Maude.—I am, Sir, &c., LEITH OF Feers, President.
26 Suffolk Street, Pall Mall East, S.W. 1.
[Nothing can be too good for the men of the Mercantile Marine. They have proved themselves heroes all. Their courage, their endurance; their patriotism, are unbounded. Without the aid of any historical organization like that of the Royal Navy to bring them honour, security, and esprit de corps, they have done their duty and been true to their country's call. We hope that those to whom Lord Leith of Fyvie appeals will be as generous in giving, donations as the sailors have been in giving their lives.— En. Spectator.]
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