The sources drawn upon in the following narrative are of various kinds: official communiquÉs, French and foreign reports, etc. But the majority of our information was derived from private letters, collected by M. de ThÉzac, the modest and zealous founder of the Abris du Marin (Seamen's Shelters), from note-books kindly lent by their owners, and from oral inquiries addressed to the survivors of Melle and Dixmude. Whenever possible, we have let our correspondents speak for themselves. We regret that the strictest orders have compelled us to preserve their anonymity, which, however, we hope may be merely temporary. |