The expectations were fulfilled; in fact the evidence brought on board the _Express_ went almost beyond what was acceptable to a British ship’s company who had not just been fighting for their lives. The articles of wreckage which it is possible to mention included a quantity of brand-new woodwork, with bright brass fittings, a large portion of a white wooden bunk, bits of furniture and living-spaces, a shot-hole plug, two black-painted gratings, a mattress and bedcover, two seamen’s caps, with cap ribbons of the IV and V Untersee Boot Flotille, and their owners’ names, a vest and two pairs of drawers; also a red flag, a fit ensign for these lawless savages. For their destruction, it is hardly necessary to say, the full reward was given. Lieutenant Thomas Kippins and Skipper Andrew Walker also received the D.S.C. and two of their men the D.S.M. This was an execution rather than a fight; but our fishermen can show their battles too, battles worthy of the sea-dogs who kept the narrow seas against more worthy enemies. In the Downs, and in the first twilight of a November morning, three of His Majesty’s armed drifters--_Present Help_, _Paramount_ and _Majesty_--were beginning their daily sweep, when Skipper Thomas Lane, R.N.R., of the _Present Help_, which was spare ship at the moment, sighted an object one mile distant to the eastward. As day was breaking, she was quickly marked for a pirate submarine--a huge one, with two big guns mounted on deck, one a four-inch and one a 22-pounder. Nevertheless _Present Help_, _Paramount_ and _Majesty_ opened fire at once with their 6-pounders, not standing off, but closing their enemy, and continuing to close her under heavy fire until they were hitting her with their own light guns. Even our history can hardly show a grander line of battle than those three tiny ships bearing down upon their great antagonist; and if U. 48 did not fall to their fire, it is none the less true that her surrender was due in the first place to their determined onset. It was _Paramount_ who took and gave the first knocks. Her searchlight was shot away, and she in reply succeeded in putting one of the pirate’s guns out of action. In the meantime--and none too soon--_Present Help_ had sent up the red rocket; it was seen by two other armed drifters, _Acceptable_ and _Feasible_, who were less than two miles off, and by H.M.S. _Gipsy_, who was four miles away. Skipper Lee, of the _Acceptable_, immediately sang out ‘Action,’ and both boats blazed away at 3,000 yards’ range, getting in at least one hit on the enemy’s conning-tower. At the same moment came the sound of the _Gipsy’s_ 12-pounder as she rushed in at full speed.