The  Rouen  was  mobilised  as  an  auxiliary  scout,  in  which  capacity
she  assisted  French  submarines  and  had  engagements  with  enemy
submarines  in  the  Channel,  including  one  of  twenty-five  minutes'  duration,
at  the  end  of  which  the  submarine  was  presumed  to  be  sunk  or  badly
damaged.  In  December,  1916,  she  was  torpiedoed  on  returning  from  an
expedition  against  an  enemy  submarine  in  the  Bay  of  St.  Malo,  and  not
only  was  she  badly  damaged,  but  &v@  of  those  on  board  were  kiUed  and
several  severely  wounded.  She  drifted  towards  Dieppe,  but  was  taken
in  tow  to  Cherbomrg,  where  she  was  repaired,  and  afterwards  employed
for  some  time  on  the:  transport  of  troops  between  Corfu  and  Taranto  and
Itea.  Om  on©  occasion  in  the:  course  of  her  service  she  was  in  the  A-dria-tic
Sea  in  the  company  of  ite  French  cruiser  Chateau  Renault,  and  was.  only
a  short  distance  away^when  that  ship  was  torpedoed  and  sunk.
The  Sussex  was  first  employed  as  a  troopship  between  Dieppe  arid
Havre,  and  afterwards  in  th«  Folkestone  passeng'er  service.  She  was
torpedoed  when  crossing  the  Channel  in  March,  1916,  bu,t  was  not  a  total
loss,  aad  after  repair  was  requisitioned  by  thje  French  Marine  at  Havre.
The  Paris,  the  last  addition  to-  the  Newhaven  and  Dieppe  passenger
fleet,  was  taken  over  by  the  British  Admiralty  as  a  coimmissioned  ship
in  his.  Majesty's.  Navy  for  the  special  service,  of  mine  laying  in  the  North
Sea,  more  particularly  off  the  Flandiers  coast  and  Enaden.
