even more jealous of Li Fock Lum and neutralis. his efforts. 114
(4)
The British gunboats have bon very actively employed whenever the political situation has been sufficiently quiet, in patrolling,
searching for, nd attucking pirates and their craft.
A good
deal of succuss has been obtained but they can never deal with
the gangs that work entirely from the shore, attacking small
craft and then retiring into the hills or their lairs up small
crceks. Their value must consist choily in preventative work
and backing up General Li Pook Lum's forces from the water side
when he attacks an area. It is their prosene, which undoubtedly
puts the necessary stiffening into his soldiers on these ocousions.
Also by tracking down and dealing with 11 suspicious steam
launches met a grout dual of potential pirney is prevented and
fear instilled in the piritus' minds. ih. whole essence of success
in this work is uncertainty of movement, it is no us having
regular schedule which the pir tus can observe and make their
plans accordingly.
(5) The Hongkong Goverma.nt fitted out 4 mod lunches for
convoy work which r manned by oval ratings under the command
of a Naval officer. Thes or ft are by no means ideal for th
work, they draw too much water and most of them are too slow.
They have however been very useful indeed, not only for convoying
but for patrol work in between and wor. particularly welcom during the periods when the gunboats have had to be concentrated
at Canton.
Prevention of Piracy
Present Syston.
(1)
At present shipping is protected against piracy by the follow- ing methods.
(a)
British gunboats.
These are distributed bout the rivers and
the Delta uccording to signs and information received. They
are a mobile force which can be switched to any are required.
Piracy suppression is by no means th. only duty they have to
perform, Canton and the other fraty ports have all got to be looked after and protected in eise of nued.
Chinese military
have often to be dult with and turned off British launches etc.
(The
IA.
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