Page
KHN HONGKONG DAILY FERSS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9rr, 1925.
EDINBURGH"
EXTRACT OF MALT WITH COD LIVER OIL
GUARANTEED PURE and containing all the valuable "propertice of SCOTOH BARLEY in perfect combination. with the finest COD¡LIVER OIL.
COD
T
An lavaluable food for produc "ing fat and muscic, and an ideal preparation in affording protec tion against damp, cold, and varying climatic conditions.
#
Obtainable at:
S. Watson & Co., Lad,
Queen's Dispensary...
Colonial Dispensary.
Pharmacy.
HARKNESS, BEAUMONT & CO., Edinburgh, Scotland,
· Sole Manufacturers.
Ford
THE UNIVERSAL CAR
TOURING CARS and 1 ton TRUCKS
The Ford Car and the Ford Truck have proved their worth in Hongkong as they have the world
over.
The Ford 1 ton Truck is the Cheapest form of Commercial transportation in Hongkong To-day.
Buy & Ford and spend; the difference.
ALEX. ROSS & CO.,
SOLE AGENTS.
Bank of China Buildings,
Duddell Street.
Telephone: Central 2487.
DAIRY FARM NEWB.
ICE CREAM.
Whereby beg to remind our numerous
Customers that their Orders for ICE CREAM must be placed 24 hours before dali arry in required
(1963
HOUSES FOR SALE AT THE PEAK NEAR MOTOR ROAD.
FO
FOR SALE, either together (suitable for Mean), or separately, with carly possession, Nos. 2 and 3, FraWART TERRACE, PEAL
Apply to H E POLLOCK,
Prince's Building.
'TIS BETTER TO SMOKE
HERE THAN HALFER
LXT THE
HONGKONG CIGAR STORE
SUPPLY YOUR WANTS.
-WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
TO LET...
[83
OFFICE and Rheu on Good Locality FFICE and RESIDENCE with Servanta
in SHAMEEN.
"
Apply A.B., c/o Daily Press. "
TO LET.
(319
FROMWELLBURN, 78, Th Pask (6 Rooms), on Motor Road, with Garage, Tennis Court and Garden.
Apply to 300]
E. A LAMMERT.
ROM beginning April (tor One Year
TO LET..
THE SUI AN PIRACY.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.
OFFICERS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN NEGLIGENT.
THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION
The Report of the Commission. ap- OBSERVANCE OF PIRACY pointed to inquire in reference to the
REGULATIONS. A piracy of the Hongkong, Canton and The Report deals with this question Macao Steamboat Co.'s steamer Sui An under six headings, vix:(1) By the
TER GRILLES AND TES DISPOSITION OF THE GUARDS. : There are two outstanding features" ins the circumstances of this occurrence to which our attention has been drawn. Firstly, the grilles prescribed by Re- gulation No. 2 or provided in accordance with Regulation No. 10 were not kept locked. Sooondly, two guards out of the four who were on duty were posted aft on the main deck among, the second class passengers. Both these matters" ard within the province of the Master only- We notice that no contravention of any Regulations is involved in them. The Re guiations require grilles but at the same time omit to require that they should be proper that they should not be kept locked. It is, of course, obviously im
引
to us that this emission by the Mister- se.. which requires that The Master constitutes a breach of Regulation No.
on the evening of Sunday, November Owners; (2) by the Master; (3) by the locked. The suggestion has been made 19th, 1999, as to whether the existing Chief Officer; (4) by the Chief Engineer; precautions against piracy are adequate (8) by the Second Engineer (6) the grilla and efficient was laid before the Legis- and the disposition of the guards. lative Council by command of E.E. The Governor yesterday.
The Commission consisted of Mr. J. R.
THE OWNERS EXONERATED.
As to the obligations imposed by the
HAYS:-
Wood (Chairman), Hon. Mr. C. Mal.regulations on the owners, the Report Messer, Commander 0. W. Beckwith, RN, Mr H. P. White, and Captain P. M. B. Lake' (Indo-China: S.S. Co.)...,
The general conclusion reached by the Commission is that the attack was" due to the fact that the Piracy Regulations generally were not carried out as A routine on the ship; the officers carried no arms on duty, the guards were im properly armed and badly placed for defence. There seems to have been no anticipation whatever of an attack." The Commission at the conclusion of their Report express the view that what"! ever measures are adopted to prevent piracy their success will be only partial until public order is Armly established
in the asighbouring Chinese Territories. The root of the evil, they say, is outside the waters of the Colony.
FINDINGS.
The Report begins with a narrative of the piracy, and incidentally saya:-
"We are not satisfied that any person' travelling among the first class passen- gera took part in the piracy, nor are we convinced that there was a woman among the pirates. It appears that several of the pirates during these pro ceedings wore women's clothes, probably takon from passengers. Wo have found. no reason to suppose that any member of the ship's crew was privy to the piracy."
Then come the following paragraphs: Opportunities for reporting the ship
CT Toute.
The passage of the ship during the piracy was not observed either from Cheung Chan Police Station, nor from Waglan Lighthouse nor from the Chinese Maritime Customs Station at Sam Mun. The ship did not meet any. patrol launch opinion no blame attaches to anyone on of the Hongkong Water Police. In our
Action by the Secretary of the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Co., Ltd.
this account."
So far as the responsibility for carry- ing out these Regulations rests upon the owners, we find that the owners of as. Sui An have been completely exonerat ed. Ve are impressed with the fact that they have done everything in their power to ensure that full effect should be given to the Regulations on this ship.
:
THE MASTER FOUND NEOLIGENT. Capt. Birss, the master of the 5.3. Sui da, bas in our opinion contravened the following Regulations:-
suggestion and press
shall commit no act of omission whichi may tend to prevent any of the provi sions of these Regulations from being properly carried out." We reject this Аге content to ex- the view that Captain Bires. would have carried out his duty as Master more efficiently if he had taken steps to keep the grilles locked. The. two guards allocated to the main deck aft were posted there by the Master prim arily to protect the bridge deck, etc., in accordance with Regulation No. 4 (b) We have only cae comment to make on this subject, namely, that in our opinion a better and more effective dis position could have been made.
GENERAL.
"The complete success of the piratical attack on the a.s. Sui din was in our (a) Begulation No. 26, which re Regulations generally were not carried opinion due to the fact that the Piracy quires that "Each guard while on duty out as a routine on this ship; the officers shall carry ons police whistle, one rifle
ad 50 rounds of ammunition, and one were improperly armed and badly placed carried Do 81m8 on duty; the guards. revolver and 25 rounds of ammuni for defence. There seems to have been tion."
no anticipation whatever of an attack.
ADEQUACY; OF EXISTING REGULATIONS.
(b) Regulation No. 27, which re- quires that guarda. shall be exercised weekly in the use of their weapons. Also Regulation No. 20 which requires that the arms and ammunition of tha ship should be tested weekly by the ship's officers.
If the Piracy Regulations had been. strictly followed by Capt Birss dne guard provided with a whistle and armed (c) Regulation No. 28, which lage tion, also with one revolver and 5. with one rifle and 60 rounds of ammuni- down that "At least one gaurd shall rounds of ammunition would have been be on duty and shall patrol the space on duty near the bridge between the. between the dodgers and the grille dodgets and the grille. A second guard protecting the bridge deck at all times similarly equipped, presumably posted during the voyage." All guards on duty were posted outside the grille room skylight would have been also on on the bridge deck forr'ard of the engine which protected the bridge deck. duty. Every certificated officer, whether (d.) Regulation No. 39, which re on or off duty, would have carried a quires that "Each certificated officer revolver and 25 rounds of ammunition. shall carry one revolver and 25 round Apart from these Regulations we think of ammunition at all times while the it likely that if discipline had been ship is in a danger zone.". The master enforced on the officers and on the and his certificated officers were carry guards of the ship, the master of the ing no arma.
ship, in view of the short duration of
(e) Regulation No. 62. This relates the voyage, would have been found at to the locking of the engine and boiler the time of this attack, near the bridge. room doors at all times while the ship In our opinion these Regulations if car- is in a danger zone The master shares ried out would have been effectual to with the Chief Engineer the reapon this extent. We think it unlikely that sibility for the fact that the doors of this piratical plan of attack would ever the engine and boiler rooms remained have been attempted. If it had been at unlocked.
tempted, in our view the bridge could We and that Capt. Bires understood sufficient time to have robbed it of itd.
bave been held against the attack for a purpose for which they were framed. He would have been turnshed to inflict dam the terms of the Regulations and the element of surprise. An opportunity
PIRACY REGULATIONS.
however disapproved of them for reseons which he has gives us and made his own upon the attackers and to send up arrangements independently of them. the bridge could not have been finally signals of distress. It is probable that. The ship was overdue in Hongkong at We consider the reasons given by Capt. held against determined assault by a 10 p.m. on the 19th November. The fact Birse to be unsatisfactory and that the large body of armed pirates, but unless of the late arrival of the ship did not arrangements he made in lieu of those the success of the surprise is practically arouse immediate alarm on her account laid down in the Regulations were of since there had been occasions when auch a nature as to make the defence of certain, no surprise attack would be un such delay had been caused through the bridge in event of attack, practically dertaken on a ship of the type of the inability, on account of lack of water, abortive. Only two rifles were issued to 5.3. Sví án. to cross the mud-filata outside Macao the four guards on duty. By direction RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE Harbour. The Eastern Extension Tele of Capt. Biras they were carried unload- graph Company's office in Macao at that ed. The guards were only given a few hour was closed, and it was not possible rounds of ammunition for their revolvers, The Commission makes a number of to ascertain by cable whether the ship Neither Capt. Birss nor any of his certi-recommendations on this subject. had in fact left her port of departure. ficated officers carried arms. The Piracy The existing Piracy Regulations when ONE EUROPEAN FLAT in "LEE BUILD. Relief measures were therefore not or- Regulations were not brought to the originally Passed were, they say, experi- rso.” Wanchai Gap Road. Apply to 32,ganized by the Secretary of the Company notice of the officers by the Master. The mental in character. In the light of KENNEDY ROAD, Hongkong.
[258 until 9 a.mi. on the 20th November, when only direction given by him in the event experience they have been only partially telegraphic information had reached him of a piracy was that the guards should enforced though their form has not been from Macao. We cannot see that, with retire to the bridge. He failed to realise amended. The Commission thinks that TO LET.
the information and resources at his the danger of piracy and that any piracy it may be found more convenient to re- disposal, the Secretary could have taken must be a surprise attack. His guards peat the present Regulations and sub- OFFICE ROOMS, Top Floor, 6, any more effective action.
were not properly disposed. We realise stitute others than, to use them as Quem & Road Central
Vonduct of the Master and other Certi tully the difficulty in which Capt. Bizes basis for amendment. Apply
ficated Officers of the ship during
was placed by the surprise piratical at- The following general principles of de- GANDE, PRICE & CO., LTD.
the attack.
tack made on his ship. We desire to fence are laid down by the Commission: guard ourselves, from being understood We consider that in all regulations or In our opinion Capt. Birss acted in a to reflect here upon his personal conduct schemes made for the prevention of " proper manner, When he found that a on that occasion. In our opinion, how. piracy, attention should be concentrated piratical attack was being made, he over, he must be found negligent, in on measures of actual defence of vital FFICES in UNION BUILDING Four steppted to reach the bridge with all having omitted to bold himself, his certi parte of the ship. It seems to us that
Rooms on Fifth Floor:
despatch as the position to be defended ficated officers, and his guards, in readi the regulations which had for their ob- by the guard. He was unfortunately ness to defend the ship in accordance ject the segregation of passengers from shot down before he could reach this with the Piracy Regulations." protected aren
The Chief Officer, Mr. Copland,
2003
TO LET
Apply UNION INSURANCE SOCIETY
OF CANTON, LTT
TO LET.
[169
-
THE CHIEF OFFICER.
each other or from the crew, the separa- tion of passengers from their luggage or Cargo, are irksome and of little use..
bad only joined the ship three We find that the Chief Officer must ba Such regulations tend to interfere with days before, H&S
on duty held negligent for having omitted to the regulations for the safety of passeng➜ on the bridge. Apparently he had no carry arms as required by Regulation era as, in the event of Fire or collision,. time to realise the attack of the pirates No. 32.
FURNISHED, for One Year or Eighteen until they had practically reached the
Months, from 1st April, 1923,
*BERWICK LAW," No, 155, Peak, 6-roomed Bungalow withTennis Court and Garden on Motor Road at Magasino Gap.
Apply LINSTEAD & DAVIS, Alemandra Buildings.
170)
bridge, and he was put out of action" by a blow on the head from a revolver.
The Chief Engineer, Mr. Cullen, was in his cabin on the boat deck on the port side. He was captured by the pirates and secured on the bridge.
The Second Engineer, Mr. Harman, was on duty in the engine room. The engine room was entered by armed men who covered him with their firearms.
it. is essential to be able to get the pas THE CRIES
sengers into the boats with the greatest ENGINEER.
promptitude. We believe them also to. We find that the Chief Engineer must be unworkable under, local conditions of be held negligent for his failure to the trade of river steamera. In our view comply with Regulation No. 32. He also the main point is dot to regulate passeng- omitted to comply with Regulation No. ors in normal times on board but to have 52 which reqiures that, the doors of the thé means at hand ready to defeat the engine and boiler rooms should be kept outbreak of piracy if it should occur. locked.
THE SECOND ENGINEER.
The vital parts of the ship, are for the present purpose the navigating, bridge and the engine room. It may be suggest- He continued to superintend the engines once to the Chiel Engineer applies also point to bo defended, but it is difficulti What we have stated above with refer-ed that the steering chain in a third vital. under compulsion: In our opinion he had no option but to do so, and we are time with reference to buy position in this pirates will find it worth while to inter- to the Second Engineer. At the same to imagine any circumstances in which HINESE-RIGGED with AUXILIARY satisfied that if Mr. Harman had seen enquiry having contrasened Regulation fere with the steering chain until they
MOTOR.
FOR SALE.
OENONE"
Registered Tonnage: 24. Length overall: 68 feet
Apply to-
Mr. C. SEVERN,
131, The Peak.
any way to change the situation, he would have made an attempt. emelt
No. 32, we fotice that he was on duty have obtained control of the other two We do not think it, in the engine room at the time of this vital positions. Conduct of the ship's quards during the attack.
"occurrence, and we shall here later re therefore, worth while to insist by re commend that certificated officers Coagulation upon any protection for, the The behaviour of the ship's guards duty in the engine room shall not be re, steering chain. . appears to have been excellent
quired to carry arms upon their persons.
(Continged on page 3)
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.