NO CONFIDENTIAL.
19603
RAGE 29 MAY 14]
37
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG. 9th. May, 1914.
şir.
忘
8869
With reference to my Despatch No. 147 of the
2nd. instant in which I reported the recent piracy of the S. S.
"Tai On", I have the honour to inform you that immediately after
the piracy I consulted with Commodore Anstruther as to what steps
could be taken to give better protection by His Majesty's Ships to
vessels trading from this Colony to the West River while in Chinese
waters between the boundaries of the Colony and Wang Min where the patrol by His Majesty's Ships of the West River begins. Commodore Anstruther very kindly arranged as a temporary measure to keep a Torpedo Boat constantly on patrol in those waters during the hours
(about 9 to 11 p.m.) when the West River Steamers are passing
through it on their outward journey. But Torpedo Boata are not
suitable for the purpose for they draw too much water to pursue a steamer if taken off her course by pirates outside the navigation channel; they are too small to be out in rough weather; and their complement of seamen is only 4 a very small force to overcome armed resistance. He said that what was wanted was another shallow draft gunboat of the "Moorhen" or "Sandpiper" type and I
agree with him.
2.
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I realised that correspondence concerning such
an addition might involve much loss of time and I said that for my part I should be prepared to recommend to you that the cost of
building
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P..
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