109
should follow the Amèrican custom at the time of placing armed guards from their river gunboats on these steamers, while passing certain stretches on the river.
28. It is curious that the "Minority" Report should have failed to take into con- sideration the essential differences between the conditions which Admiral Leveson was reviewing when he made the statement attributed to him, and those which form the subject of the report. The Hong Kong Daily Press on the other hand clearly recognised the differences in a leader on an exactly similar speech made by Sir Arthur Leveson at a dinner given to him by the British Chamber of Commerce at Hankow on 25th October, 1923, when he "opposed the placing of guards on board ships as being useless and a cause of provocation".
The Paper* adds, "The Admiral was referring of course to the ships on the Yangtse......The problem in the upper reaches of the Yangtze is not the same as in the waters of South China. In the North it is generally a case of the soldiers of some political faction firing upon steamers lawfully plying up and down the river. In South China the state of lawlessness, which so unfortunately prevails, exposes river steamers to attacks by gangs of pirates travelling on ships in the guise of peaceful passengers &c......it would be interesting to hear the views of the [my italics] Commander-in-Chief on the subject of the armed guards these ships are compelled by law to carry for their own protection in the waters of the Canton Delta, and in the iron grilles which have to be provided on such ships as a means of preventing pirates getting from one part of a ship to another".
29. The remainder of the Report deals with a Report on the West River condi- tions by the Senior Naval Officer, West River and advocates increased patrols. Here where external piracy of tows &c. is simple and where there is a possibility of external attack on steamers, patrols are unquestionably of great value. The numbers of gun- boats, launches etc., which can be allocated for this duty however depends upon the Admiralty.
30. I note that in summarizing the Report is in favour of retaining grilles around the engine room and stokehold entrance and bridge and the great value of these (especially those on the bridge) has been borne out by the evidence at the disposal of the Commission. To this I would like to point out the great importance in ocean going vessels, at any rate, of keeping foreign 1st class passengers and ship's officers grilled off wherever it is at all feasible. No doubt in some ships their construction renders this impossible; but unless this is done, it undoubtedly places a very strong card in the hands of the pirates in the opportunity that it gives them to seize hostages as a guarantee of their wishes being acceded to by the master of the ship.
31. The concluding remarks of the Report as to the need for the fullest co- operation between Hong Kong Government, Royal Navy, owners and officers must meet with the approval of everyone concerned,
*Weekly Edition: November 10, 1923, page 532,
(INTLD).. P. J.
5th March, 1927,
Hong KoNG.