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6. With regard to (d), the effectiveness of the armed guards depends very largely on their alertness and the efficiency of their training, but experience has shown that they are practically useless unless the ship is efficiently grilled.
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7. As regards the resistance to be expected from the ships officers, the "Sunning" (15th November,1926 the "San Nam Hoi" (17th January, 1928) and the "Hai Ching" (8th December, 1929) are instances of very gallant and
There is no successful defence by ships officers.
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doubt that in a properly grilled ship carrying out an efficient routine for protection, the ships' officers supported by a well trained armed guard, should be able to defend their ship until Naval assistance arrives.
In such
a case, as your predecessor suggests, the arrival of a British warship would bring a welcome and successful termination of the action.
8. You should inform the Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force Station, Kai Tak, in the sense of paragraphs 3 and 4 above, and I have no objection to your informing shipping companies that my views on grilles and guards remain as strong as ever, and in the sense, generally of paragraphs 5 to 7 above.
(Sgd.) FRED. C. IREYER.
ADMIRAL.