205
main tained.
At the best, however these measures can
only be regarded as a slight help in countering piracy. The short range of the A/T sets and atmospherics (particularly during the summer months) have been
respon si ble for numerous failures to report. In several
cases the ratul destroyer or sloop has been order to
sca yeh for a vessel which has subsequently reported "all well".
47
Few, if any, of the smaller ships can be certain of keeping in rouch with D'Aguilar at a distance of more than 150 miles. This is probably not the fault of the operators who may be considered to be in advance of their instruments. The result is that HongKong frequently loses touch with a ship even before she reaches Swatow on
her voyage North.
48.
The Rontoing system has been altered slightly and ships now report direct to the Commodore, Hong Kong while wi thin range. They still communicate with each other when further North Tut, owing to the difficulty in finding long-range ships or shore stations to pass "U.C" messages this system of "negative report" is most unreliable.
Changes of programme, due to typhoons and other causes, have complicated matters considerably.
49.
Masters of vessels are much in favour of the schemes and agree that they have a moral effect possibly out of
proportion to their practical nature. Failures to report are tabulated and forwarded to the shipping offices every month when each case is gone into by the firm' ន W/T
Superintendent.