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their crave it must be borne in mind that the nmber
of men employed on each vessel is inconsiderable. So
the only plan is to instruct the marine and land forces
to properly fulfil their duty of watch and ward. If
this be done, then although it is not possible to
definitely elaborate any special rules before the event,
still a reorganisation or the mahbone of prevention may
be possible. For example, wh n pirates have got away
with a quantity of booty, they must land somewhere, or
make their escape to some place in boats. Now if these
places can be discovered and steps be taken in secret
I think the key of the situation is found.
In
As Your Excellency is aware, all the recent casea
of piracy have arisen by taking the ship's guards and
crews by surprise. When the ships get to a lonely
place, persons who till then appeared to be law-abiding
and peaceful individuals suddenly transform themselves
into arned pirates. Fut although before the event all
this is beyond anticipation, such conduct on the part of
the pirates indicates long preparation beforehand. Where the attack is to be made, where the booty is to be hidden,
where their confederate boat is to come to their
assistance ---, all this must be arranged in advance.
whatever department or district they land, the Magistrate
of that Tepartment or Tistrict should in future be made
to take special steps to prevent them and seize them. The place where their confederate boat comes to their assistance must be a waterway equally accessible to a guard boat, and the best m-asure for Your Excellency to
take will be to start a number of guard boats to constantly patrol the dangerous parts. These guard boats need not be large gunboats of a naval type, nor need they be furnished with canno n. It would be quite sufficient to use steam launches of the ordinary
passenger type as now ply on the inland waters. Each
of