[2866] 21742/P7 100 pads 2/26 754 G & S 126
SECRET.
COPY OF TELEGRAM.
From -in-0., China.
To-Admiralty.
4 J
IN
Date 29.11.28.
SENT
RECD. 1608
CYPHзR G...(G).
Y.
CORRECTION.
Addressed Admiralty, repeated G.O.C., China, G.O.C., North China, F.A., Yangtse, Commodore Hong Kong, G.0.C., Malaya.
stations
602. I am seriously perturbed about the anti piracy problem in China. The provision of armed guards in British ships both on Yangtze and coast routes will probably prevent piracy in these ships but we cannot go on providing guards for ever. There are 21 ships on Yangtse requiring guards of about 100 seamen and about 40 on coastal routes between Tientsin and Singapore requiring about 200 Military officers and man. I cannot accept much longer the constant drain on crews of H.1.5. CASTOR at Hankow, CORNWALL at Shanghai, and Gunboats and destroyers at their various/and with further military reductions proposed I anticipate General Officer Commanding concerned will shortly plead inability to supply guards. Further, it should not be duty of the Military to provide guards for ocean going ships and in the weather conditions which may be expected in China Seas during winter months some of them may be incapacitated by sea sickness but as I was unable to provide these guards from Naval sources owing to ?(oruisers of) 5th 0.8. being already short handed I was compelled to suggest that military should do so, The opinion is strongly held at Hong Kong and Shanghai that it will be necessary to continue these
guards indefinitely and if H.N.Govt agree I can only suggest
force of Royal Marines should be sent out to China as part of
permanent garrison and that they should provide all Guards for
coast and river. about 305 would be required. It is realised
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