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suspicious, and returned to Hongkong, arriving at 0915.
The identity of the ship reported by "Seistan" has not been established.
19. In the meantime, no report has been received from the "Muinem" since leaving Hongkong. "Defender" had failed to establish W/T communication with her and had searched Bias Bay without success. Colonel Chen was informed and "Defender" was ordered to remain on patrol, off Chilang, until relieved by "Diamond" who was ordered to raise steam at once. "Dainty", the normal patrol relief, took up patrol off Mendoza Island; and at 1138 an aircraft patrol was sent out to search the coast from Waglan to Chilang Point, to a depth of 30 miles from the coast.
20. At 1250 on the 3rd February a message from the "Muinam" was received via Hongkong Government Radio as follows: "Please inform Commodore all well. Messages "omitted on account of wireless apparatus". "Defender" and aircraft were then recalled and "Diamond" (which had not left harbour) ordered to revert to usual notice for steam.
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the Staff Officer (Intelligence), Singapore, boarded the "Muinam" on her arrival, to ascertain the cause of her failure to report. The report rendered by this officer shows that the failure was due to the fact that the "Muinam" is a Danish ship on charter, and that, in accordance with what appears to be Danish custom, the duties of W/T Operator are carried out by the Second Officer. This Officer was making his first voyage in this capacity and under the Anti-Piracy organisation, and may be excused to some extent by his inexperience. The wireless set was working perfectly on the previous voyage. Both the Master of the "Muinam" and the Wireless Superintendent of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire appear to have been at fault, in not taking steps to explain to the Second Officer the details of the Communication Scheme. informed the firm concerned of my opinion on the matter.
I have
22.
On the 7th February, the Anti-Piracy Patrol Vessel ("Decoy") sighted a steamship about five miles north of the trade kHong Hai
route, apparently steaming north-east into /investigate, and later Bay. "Decoy" that the ship was the Osaka Shosen Kaisha a.s. "Deli Maru", reported
Hongkong to Swatow, and that everything appeared to be in order. that she It was thought by the 0.S.K. agents (with whom I had communicated) was closing and by "Decoy" that the ship was keeping close inshore to obtain to
calmer water, and in this view I concurred. signal was received from the Senior Naval Officer, West River, at At 2000, however, a Canton, stating that he had received a request from the Commanding Officer, H.I.J.M.S. "Saga", that the Patrol destroyer should not lose touch (he had apparently received a report from the 0.S.K. agents in Hongkong) as the "Deli Maru" was supposed to communicate with him every two hours and had not done so, and the "Saga" could not establish communication. "Deli Maru" as far north as Chilang (0040), when, all still
"Decoy" therefore shadowed the appearing in order she parted company to intercept the China Navigation Company's s. s. "Hupeh", which was carrying bullion. The Deli Maru" was then proceeding quite normally up the traffic route. As a safeguard, however, "Decoy" was ordered to carry out a dawn patrol between Chilang and Tai Sami.
The Commanding Officer of the "Saga" asked the
Senior Naval Officer, West River (0200) to convey to me, from Vice-Admiral Hyakutake, his thank and compliments for the protection afforded, stating that a destroyer had been ordered south from Amoy at 25 knots to meet the "Deli Maru". I later that this destroyer subsequently shadowed the U.S. Gunboat
was informed "Sacramento" for the whole of one night, presumably in mistake
for
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