Recently a "despatch from the middle Yangtze dealt with the pro~ tection of British steamers against attacks from communists. infesting that river. The suggestion, was made. that the provision of guards from the naval craft available was largely dependent on. fortuitous circumstances and that local opinion w ical of the fact that for certain British ships guards from other than British naval personnel had been forthcoming, The. criticism was—so inquiry shows—unjustified snd, indeed, based on a complete prehension of the functions of British naval forces on river. In point of fact the comple ment of a gunboat is not sufficient large to permit of the detach of naval ratings for, the purpose of acting as guards to steamers. Where such have been vided it he circumstances, gunboats have very precise orders on this point and they cannot depart from them, as the naval disposi tions along' the river are governéft by the requirements of the major policy of protection of British lives
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.