23
the "Irene" to slow down and eventually stop.
Dubsequently the vessel was seen to be on fire
aft, but even if it be the fact that the fire was
caused by a shell, the circumstances indicate that
the rapid spread of the fire was caused by the
pirates, whose practise, as exemplified in the
case of the "Sunning" referred to above, wa S
to fire the ship in cases where it appeared un-
likely that they would be able to retain possession
of her, and who are known to have previously
threatened to set fire to the "Irene".
There-
upon every effort was made by submarine L.4,
and also by submarine L.5 which subsequently
arrived, to save the ship and those on board,
members of the drew of the L.4 repeatedly diving
over the ship's side to rescue drowning Chinese,
and of the two hundred and fifty eight passengers
and crew on board (the figure given in Mr. Wu's
Note of December 22nd, 1927) six ship's officerE
and two hundred and twenty six Chinese were
zasqued.
About twenty four persons, eight of
whom