In consequence of the unwarranted attack by a gang of smugglers or pirates on the I-C. 8, Tuckwo neat Chinkiang when one in" nocent person was killed and a quartermaster wounded, some inquiries were made in regard to the provision of armed guards on [vessels plying on the Yangtze.
Early last year, several eq in the North-Chin in regard to the provision of armed naval or military guards on British steamers plying on the Yangtze and serving the coastal ports of China and recently in the House of Commons a reply to ion was to the effect that the Navy was doing its utmost to protect merchant seaman in Chines waters, The following account, therefore, of what actually is taking place is of the greatest interest, It appears that above Iching all foreign ships carry a guard, but that on the Hankow-Ichang tun—the middle Yangtze-Japanese ships are the only ones so provided. Every Japanese merchant vessel has & guard of ten men and an officer "equipped with revolvers, rifles, and two machine guns. In the case of two or three Japanese ships sailing in convoy, one ship has a guard and at night when the ships anchor, they make fast alongside each other, the guard being distributed among the vessels, addition to the guled, each ship carves ale Japanese oticers all of med. of British ships! on this run, there are only two British officers.' In the three China Navigation, (B. & S.) staumers 9 this "run—the' Shasi, Kian and mngtan-Chinete engineers run the ships and the only certificated British ranks aboard those vessels fre the master and chief officer. In 5 vessels on ths verviee, that company has retained its British engineers-—thers being at least, one on each ship—and in the case of 1
Brit engineer are carried.
All these ships have asked fo7 guards but in each case, we are informed, the Rear Admiral com manding' the Yangtze patrol has been unable to comply. Further more, no British men-of-war are stationed at the, customary and necessary night anchorages." Tt is stated that there are usually two British gunboats stationed at Icho fang two or three lying at anchor Ju Mankow in addition to HALS.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.