CO129-488 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1925 [1-7] — Page 110

into the matter themselves and submit minority report. At the adjourned meeting of the Committec the Chairman again made it clear that the wider consideration was outside the scope of the Committee

and the signatories hereto accordingly withdrew.

Although both the Shipowners and the Personnel on the Ships from the outset have realized the many defects of the existing

Ordinance they have unquestionably given the system more than a

fair trial, They cannot, however, continue to willingly subscribe.

to a system which from experience they are convinced is wrong.

It is strongly urged that it is the

THE REGULATIONS.

104

province of the Navy to protect commerce particularly British

commerce against the depredations of pirates. Under the Regulations

the responsibility for the defence of the local Mercantile Marine

Th

is thrown upon the owners and the officers of each vessel.

idea of a merchant ship of the class plying in the Canton Delta or

on the coast having " citadel fortifid garrisoned defended"

(vide Report of Sui An Piracy Commission) is as impracticable as

it is absurd. It is accepted as axiomatic that it is the duty of

the master and his officers to defend their ship but it is sub-

mitted that adequate protection from piratical attacks from with-

in the ship is utterly impracticable in the case of vessels

employed on the trades in question. Vessels constructed for

commercial purposes to carry passengers and cargo from one port

to another cannot be converted into fortresses. It is common

ground that the element of surpris. is always inevitably present

in the case of such attacks. The most that can be hoped for or

attempted is the defense of the bridge and engine room for a

sufficient time to unable the officurs to send out distress signals

from the bridge. The finding of the Commission appointed to

enquire into the "Sui An" Piracy goes to show that if the then

Piracy Prevention Regulations had been carried out to the letter

and the strongest possible fight put up "the bridge could only have

been held for a sufficient time to have robbed the attack of its

"element of surprise, and opportunity would have been furnished to

"inflict damage upon the attackers and to send up signals of distress.

"It is probable that the bridge could not have been finally held

2.

(against)