CO129-515-1 Piracy- legal proceedings arising from sinking of S.S. 'IRENE' 18-1-1929 - 6-9-1929 — Page 40

the vessel from the pirates whe were in unlawful

possesion of her. Had he abstained from so

deing the pirates would no doubt have profitod

by his inactivity to destroy the ship by fire,

in accordance with their usual practice in

o&ses where their operations were interfered with,

and with the threat which they had actually

bade in the ease of the

#

Irene*

I have

already pointed out that it is probable that

the spread of the fire which shortly afterwards

broke out on the "Irene" vas caused by the

pirates themselves, and that the loss of

innocent life which unfortun、tely occurred was

due to a panic among the passengers.

And in

view of the language which both ar. Bu and

Your Excellency have employed to describe the

action of the Commander of the submarine in opening

fire, it is material to point out that so far as

His lajesty's Government are aware there is no

evidence that any of the passengers or orew of

the "Irene" received any injuries from shell fire.

If

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