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despatch of many small launches to assist the original guard boats in constantly patrolling the river, and although the number of piracy cases has slightly decreased, it has not yet been found possible to suppress piracy altogether. Many officers, who have shown themselves remiss in their duties, have been cashiered and punished, and the Military Secretariat has been charged with the duty of instituting effective police arrangements. Still it is no easy matter to cleanse the source of the evil, and I fear that it will be difficult to do away with it root and branch. Protective measures must yet be taken with rigour and secrecy.
I would suggest that merchant vessels plying on the West River should be made to start in fleets at a stated time every day, and I would then send steam launches to act as convoys at those places where piracies have hitherto been most in the habit of occurring. This will deprive the pirates of their opportunities for committing depredations and piracy will cease of its own accord.
If you and the Governor of Hongkong approve of this course, I beg that you will let me know, so that I may issue the necessary instructions.
As regards the cases of cattle lifting I have recently sent telegraphic orders to the Ying Tê Hsien directing him to do his best to arrest the robbers and recover the cattle,
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despatch of many small launches to assist the original guard
boats in constantly patrolling the river, and although the number
of piracy cases has slightly decreased, it has not yet been
found possible to suppress piräcy altogether. Many officers,
who have shown themselves remiss in their duties, have been
cashiered and punished, and the Military Secretariat has been
charged with the duty of instituting effective police arrange-
ments. Still it is no easy matter to cleanse the source of the
evil, and I fear that it will be difficult to do away with it
root and branch. Protective measures must yet be taken with
rigour ami secrecy.
I would suggest that merchant vessels plying on
the West River should be made to start in fleets at a stater
time every day, and I would then send steam launches to act.
as convoys at those places where piracies have hitherto been
mort in the hábit of occurring. This will deprive the pirates
of their opportunities for committing depredations and piracy
will cease of its own accord.
If you and the Governor of Hongkong approve of
this course, I beg that you will let me know, so that I may
issue the necessary instructions.
As regards the cases of cattle lifting I have
recently sent telegraphic orders to the Ying Tê Hsien directing
do
him to, his best to arrest the robbers and recover the cattle,
Ι
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