It is strongly urged that it is the province of the Navy to protect commerce particularly British commerce against the depredations of pirates. Under the regulations the responsibility for the defence of the Ivcal mereamtile marine is thrown upon the owners and the offers of vessel. The idea of a merchant ship of the class plying in the Canton Delta or on the coast having 'a citadel fortified garrisoned defended" (vide Report of Sui An Piracy Commission) is © as impracticable as it is absurd. It is accepted as axiomatic that it is the duty of the master and his affeers to Mdeferd their ship but it is submitted that adequate protection from pirafeel attacks from weihin the abip itterly impracticable in the ease of vessels employed on the trades in question. Vessels constructed for commercial purposes to cary pat another cannot. be converted into and cargo from one
fortresses. It is common ground that the element of surprise is always inevitably present' in the ease of such attacks, "The most that lean be hoped for or attempted is the defence of the bridge and engine room for a sufficient time to enable the officers to send out distress signals from the bridge, The "Sui-an" Finding The finding of the Commissi pointed to enquire into the goes to show that if the then Piracy Prevention Regulations had been carried out to the letter and ithe strongest possible fight put up the bridge could only have been held for a sufficient time to have robbed the attack of its element of surprise, and opportunity would have been furnished to inflict damage upon the attackers and to send signals of distress. It is probable [that the bridge could not have been finally held against the determined Jassault by a large party of armed men." With one exception every recent piratical attack from within the ship has been successful inspire lof the existing Regulations. exception referred tls the case of the "Tai Lee" in April, 1924. She was then the mother ship of her convoy and carried eight armed Indian guards in charge of two European sergeants, in addition to the six armed Indian guards attach-eto the vessel and signed on articles.
The pirates launched the attack Jupon the engine room and, control having been gained, they drew the fires with the intention of causing the vessel to drift ashore where a 18 considerable body of pirates well armed were waiting ready to loot the vessel and murder anyone who resisted.
Fortunately the vessel did not Jdvift ashore, byt was carried down mid-stream with\ the current. The pirates soving that their object was Jdefeated made no attack on the bridge but jumped over-board and swam to the shore. It is said that several were shot as they were swimming away but this is doubtful jas it was a dark night and it was impossible to be certain of the results.
The "Sanning" another vessel_ the convoy turned around and tried stand by, but she could render ino assistance whatever, in fact she Jonly became an additional target for the rifles of the disappointed des-paradoes on shore who fired at both vessels until they were out of range.
Tt is considered that if it is necessary to retain certain of the Reulations until Naval patrols. (hereinafter referred to) are provided, it certainly is not necessary. to stiffen the existing regulations. but on the contrary they should be considerably modified and all that is required is that the bridge and the engine room and stokehold entrances should be protected, and the officers armed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.