CO129-515-1 Piracy- legal proceedings arising from sinking of S.S. 'IRENE' 18-1-1929 - 6-9-1929 — Page 64

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the "Irene" to elow down and eventually stop.

Subsequently the vessel was seen to be on fire

aft, but even if it be the fact that the fire was

caused by a shell, the circumstances indicate that

the rapid spread of the fire was caused by the

pirates, whose practice, as exemplified in the

ocze of the

"Bum:ing" referred to above, was

to fire une ship in ouses where it appeared an-

likely that they wud be able to retain possession

f her, alle who are known to have previously

threatened to set fire to the "Irene". There-

upou every effort waă Cade by submarine L.,

and alco by cubmazino L.ô which eabsequently

arrived, to save the ship and those on board,

Dealers of the crew of the L.4 repeatedly diving

OVE the ship' wide to rescue drowning Chinese,

and of the two hundred and fifty eight passengers

là ron Gi ba hội (the fire given in

u's

late of Docecbar 22nd, 1927) six ship's officers

and two hud rød aid twenty six Chinese METO

rescued. About twenty four persons, eight of

whom