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In view of this it is questionable whether patrols
of naval ships can be said to act as a direct deterrent to
piracy.
The only remaining alternatives are therefore:-
(E ) The provision of armed military or naval escorts on board
ships.
(b)
(c)
The provision of armed guards raised and trained by the
Companies themselves.
The arming of all European Officers on board ships.
There can be no question that the protection afforded
by armed military or naval guards is complete.
Although vessels have beer pirated since the
inauguration of the present system, in not one solitary case
has any attempt been made on a British vessel so protected.
It is perhaps not fully realised what it would mean
for each shipping company to raise, equip and train an adequate
number of guards to protect all vessels operating in the danger
zone.
5.
The Companies themselves have no facilities of any
description for work of this nature, and in addition the find-
ing of sufficient suitable personnel as guards would present
very grave difficulties which we think you will appreciate.
Further the question of discipline, without which any armed
force loses the greater part of its efficiency, is a problem
with which, we submit, shipping companies are not in a position
to deal.
The whole question as to whether guards other than
those provided by military or naval forces afford any real
protection was, we think, fully answered in the recent case of
piracy on the s.3. "Deli Maru" which apparently was carried
out with comparative ease notwithstanding the presence on
board of an armed native guard.
60
The question of carrying of arms by all European
officers has been receiving the attention of Principals for
some considerable time but it is one which we es Agents only,
are
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