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were further informed that, Naval establishments having
been drastically cut down since the War, there are no longer
available any vessels of the special type which would be
required to operate in the winding creeks of the Delta, that
they could only be provided at great cost, and that the
building of the necessary vessels and the provision of
crews would take a considerable time.
10.
We are satisfied that the situation is not so
serious as to justify our recommending any such expansion
of the Naval forces in these waters.
11.
It was suggested to us that the problem might
be solved by the adoption of a convoy system, and we were
informed that such a system had been brought into operation
on certain runs. We agree that in special circumstances
a system of this kind may be useful and desirable. We feel
however that the general adoption of such a system could
not fail to have a serious effect as a hindrance to trade,
and that it could not remain in force for any considerable
length of time without creating widespread dissatisfaction.
12. In the light of the foregoing considerations we
are satisfied that in addition to co-operation with the
local Chinese authorities and the maintenance of as efficiert
a system of patrole as is possible with the resources
available to the Naval authorities, defensive measures on
We have board the ships themselves are vitally necessary.
accordingly given our careful consideration to such
evidence as has been placed before us in regard to the efficacy of the measures prescribed in the Piracy Regulations in the light of the criticisms of these Regulations which
have