1927-04-25 — Page 4

PYJAMAS

for restful slumber

M

Mackintosh's Short Sleeve and Bhart Leg Pyjamas are made on the principle that you do not want to be swathed like a mummy those hot nights; nor do you want your pyjamas to pinch you back to wakefulness every time you stretch or inrn. They are cat roomy in 8t from a ne hand wearing cloth, light in weight yet absorbant.

NO COLLAR, SHORT SLEEVES and SHORT LEGI

in plain white, Blae and Batt. $8.50 per suit.

SUMMER BATH ROBES IN ENTIABLY NEW SHAPES

Mackintosh

MEN'S WEAR SPECIALISTS

ALEXANDRA BUILDING.?

Dairy Farm News

& CɑLad

DES VOEUX ROAD

Cold Facts-No. 1.

Do You Know-

that

Cold Storage

is the only real protection against climatic deterioration of your

WINTER CLOTHING

FURS CARPETS, Etc. ?

Our Cold Stores at East Point ars open daily at 11 am. and 4. p.m." for receiving effects for Storage.

Goods will also be received at our Main Depot and Branches for transfer to the Cold Stores at East Point. A small charge is made for delivery.

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, APRIL 25th, 1927

The Dairy Farm, Ice&Cold Storage Co.,Ltd.|

WHITEAWAYS

MEN'S

Janey Top SPORTING HOSE

NEW SUMMER

GOLF

HOSE

The latest designs in light weight wool, wool and cotton and lisle,

including the new check top design. All sizes.

$3.50 to $6,50

Pair.

All sizes and qualities now in stock in our Famous India Ganze Underwear. Not obtainable elsewhere. GENT'S OUTFITTING Dept.

WHITEAWAY, LAIDLAW & CO., LTD,

"SUNNING" PIRACY COMMISSION

REPORT.

ABOLITION OF PIRACY PREVENTION REGULATIONS

PROPOSED...

NO. FURTHER GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.”

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OWNERS.

The report of the "Sunning" Piracy Commission has just been published. The Commission, which comprised seven members, Hon," Mr. & R. Hallifax, C.M.G., C.B.E. (Chairman), Hon Mr. E D. C. Wolle, Lieut.Commander G. F. Hole, R.N., Lieut.-Commander L J. Pitcairn Jones, D.S.O., RN., Captain A. H. Stewart, Mr. T. G. Weall and Captain A. W. Davison, E.N.R., met for the Erst time on December 6th, 1956. It held thirteen meetings and t

examined seventeen witnesses. Mr. A. W. C. H. Grantham acted as Secretary and the Commission places on recurd its appreciat tion of his zealous and capable services."

The duty the Commission had to discharge was to enquire into circumstances under which the 5.5. Sunning was seized by pirates while on the voyage from Shanghai to Hong Kong, and, in parti cular,

เ

(a) to inquire how it was possible for the pirates to get on

board the ship with arms in their possession.

(b) to inquire how it was possible for the pirates to seize the

ship.

(e) to consider the efficiency of the anti-piracy Ettings in the

ship and to 'make recommendations as to the alterations.. and additions, if any, that may be deemed necessary in the s... Sunning or other sex going ships.

(d) to consider the supply of armed gaards, the number to

be carried and their administration; and

(c) to consider generally and to make recommendations na to

the measures necessary for preventing piracy.

The decision of the Commissionira appears to be that the whole of the Piracy Prevention Ragulations should now be rescinded, Government action, it is stated, was necesZETY in the beginning, but experience has provided ideas which will now doubtless he put to practical use and it is sug- gested that the onus of " preventing piracies' from within,” that is by a surprize attack on a ship from among passen. gers and others, should be placed on the owners, the Navy continuing all possible patrols on rivers, and on the coast, especially in the vicinity of known piratas hammta,

Folice, a Naval Officer, and a Coast Oficer still serving. The necessary steps should from time to timo be taken to bring the existence and nature of this. Board, "and its per- sonnel to the notice of those con cerned, especially the Shipping Companies..

WIRELESS AND OTHER

- SIGNALS.

Lieut.-Commander G. F.-Hole, RN, in a memorandum on wireless and other signals, says unfortunate- ly it has been proved by all recent piracies of ships equippel with wire- lesa telegraphy that this apparatus has been the Arst objective of the pirates and on no single occasion has opportunity been given of call- ing for help by this means. therefore becomes apparent that wireless telegraphy, as now oper- ated, is of no value sa "an anti- piracy fitting, and it is necessary to seek other means for making it an efficient safeguard. To this end two schemes have been put for ward :---

(a) A

It

Aystem of Negative siguala

(b) An automatic distress call. (a) The system of Negative Signals was put forward by Mr. L H. King (Hong Kong Government Electrical Engineer), who proposed that it should be worked in the followin

manner:-All ships com.

ing into the Hong Kong wireless telegraphy area. having established communication with Cape D'Agai lar, should give this shore station their call sign and D.K., say every four hours, and the non-receipt of "such message would be taken as a call for help. Although Mr. King stated that this extra traffic could be adequately dealt with by his present staff several difficulties would arise:-

The report, with various appen- Guilds, the Chinese General Cham- dices and letters, fills 63 foolscapes of Shipping and the Chinese Shipowners. Qualified support of printed pages so that it is only this report was also given by the possible to summarise briefly the Hong Kong, Canton and Macao results of the investigations under Steamboat Co. The Hong Kong the above headings.

Chamber of Commerce also sub mitted a detailed. scherae, drawn up by Mr. E. Sutherland, for searching passengers. The question of wireless and other signalling is dealt with separately by Lieut. Comdr. Hole. The unanimous r commendations of the Commission- ers are summarised as follows:-

(a) The Commissioners find it im possible to state where and exactly by what means the pirates get on board the Sunning with their arms It was an easy matter for them to have done so at any of the Coast

ports.

(b) The Commissioners consider that the pirates seizure of the Sun-

in certain respects, on the part of the owners and of the officers of the ship, of the spirit and the letter of the Piracy Prevention Re- gulations.

wing was facilitated by a disregard

1.-The officers did not carry re-

volvera.

The main deck grilles were continuously open, and the starboard grille on the saloon deck was generally-open. 3.-The guarda quarters were situated outside the grilled Area, and no precautions were taken to secure a continuous watch at the times of chang- ing guard. There was little, if any, control of the guards by the officers. 4.The grilles were of a nature that made them sufficiently easy to scale..

1. The Government should endea- vour to induce the authorities at the

(1) Expense of such messages to

owners.

This might however be overcome by Government foregoing the pre- sent minimum charge on messages or by, if possible, arranging to ac-. cept these calls free of charge as in the case of meteorological reports.

(2) Break down of wireless tele- graph apparatus due to causes other than piracy.

This could be guarded against by the carrying by all ships of an.

emergency coil set.

(3) The necessity for very careful

organisation for "relaying such meages.

As a ship' might be pirated within a few hours of leaving part, say Singapore, and before having estab lished wirtless telegraph munication with Hong Kong, it would be necessary to obtain the

com-

operation of all coast Wireless hai, and also of all ship stations, Stations from Singapore to Shang- in order that each ship might be passed on from one station another (by direct or relay "com- munication) in an unbroken chain The weak

to

K. M. A.

CERAMIC & REFRACTORY PRODUCST

CLINKER, AVING, BUILDING

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STONE-

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PIPES &

GLAZED TILES

Ask for our Illustrated Catalogue-Compare our Prices and Inspect our wide Range of Samples THE KAILAN MINING ADMINISTRATION DODWELL & CO., LTD., Agents, Hong Kong.

Rolande Arrault

22 QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL

Just received a large selection of Corsets, Brasieres, etc. from a leading PARISIEN CORSETIERE.

Also Swimming Suits and Beach Costumes in all colours and sizes.

WE ARE NOW SHOWING

Our New Arrivals of

[[APE]

coast ports to make the searching a font in this chain would MANILA AND BANGKOK

at those ports more effective, and should continue to press for the co- operation of the Chinese authorities to deal with the evil ashore. Should effective co-operation continue to be withheld," the Commissioners con sider that H.M.'s Government would be, amply justified in taking inde- pendent action for the extermina tion of known pirate strongholds a a common-international duty.

2. The necessity for all possible patrolling by the Navy on the rivers and on the coast, especially in the vicinity of such spote as Bias Bay, should continue to

emphasised

which do not keep continuous wire- less telegraph watch owing to carrying, in the case of Class III ships, only one fully qualified opera- tor. This difficulty might however be overcome the employment of

such as are

STRAW HATS

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[1,3.[

Wireless "Watchers Dow being trained in Hong Kong.

(b) Automatic Distress Call- This system would necessitate the casing in of the wireless telegraph transmitter in a bullet proof cañé, so as to render it immune from being tampered with by pirates. On the bridge or in other suitable position would be placed the Auto- The whole of the Piracy Pre-matic Call apparatus, ale encased vention Regulations should be re- in a builet proef chest, which, when scinded, and the following recom- put into action by the palling of a mendations should be brought to single cord, would automatically the notice of owners as the outlines send out distress signals until such of a scheme suficient to enable a time as the mechanism ran down, (c) As regards the eficiency of few determined men to prevent power being derived from the ship's the anti-piracy fittings on the ship, even the attempt at piracy alike.

succesful piracy, and so to make encased transmitter.

It is claimed that this invention the Commissioners refer to the ob

ly:--

once set in motion by a single move- jection to the grilles principle on

(a) The bridge should be protectment would be impossible to stop fortresses. It is common ground Piracy Prevention Regulations the ground that in times of panic

ed by grilles and dodgers, with unless- they might interfere with life

guarda stationed at the on saving, but the conclusion reached

trances. is that the grille, as an anti-piracy measure has a value which over- rides such an objection. The Com mission, therefore, puts on record' its firm belief in properly con- structed grilles which must ba unscaleable and, in addition, stresses the importance of having a fortified bridge.

(d) There was a considerable divergence of opinion regarding armed guards. Officers of const

(b)

grilles should be isolating the Officers 1st class cabina as far as

possible. (c) Careful attention should be given to points of detail such 18-the arrangement of lights to assist the defence, a system of alarm bells and a plan to" concentrate all Europeans an alazzo. The

ships appear to have little confid-1 wirele compulsory installation of renting the Chinese Chamber of should be considerably modified and to the companies, it is to be hoped

out

that the element of surprise is Caro misplaced incidence of (a) The electric leads, which always inevitably present in the responsibility. The companies at should be enclosed in steel ease of such attacks. The meat that present pay all expenses for certain tubes, are cuit.

can be hoped for or attempted is fittings and guards ordered or pro (b) The steel chest is broken open the defence of the bridge and vided by the Government. They and the mechanism smasked. engine room for a sufficient time to have little faith in their value, and enable the officers to end out | in few cases do much to co-operate. THE MINORITY REPORT.

The Government does nothing, be- distress signals from the bridge.

"It is coundered that if it is "yond insisting that precautions are The Minority Report, to which necessary to retain certain of the taken, that the companies could not the Commissioners refer, was sub Regulations until Naval patrols do at least equally well themselves. mitted by Mr. N. 8. Brown, repre- sre, provided, it certainly is not The

is however shift- serting the Hong Kong Chamber of necessary to stiffen the existing Reed to the

respovernment. With that Commerce, Mr. T. N. Chau, repregulations but on the contrary they responsibility definitely put back on telegraphy should be con- Commerce and Mr. T. T. Laurenson, all that is required is that the that self interest or public opinion cuce in them; river steamer officers sidered, but in any event the Gov-representing the combined China bridge and the engine room and will lead to precautions being taken, had no fault to find. It was ernment should encourage its use Cost Officers and Engineers Guilda stokehold entrances should be pro with a better will, and therefore pointed

that the

with more chance of being thorough. guards and development by such means as They were un-official members of the tected, and the officers armed. were provided by the Captain the reduction of charges for a sys Committee appointed by the Gov-

Speaking generally defence

11 the This misplaced incidence Superintendent of Police and thatter of anti-piracy messages ernment in 1924 to emsider pro- from within can never of itself be Commissionera continue,“

scema to consequently trouble Arose over The Government should estab posals with regard to the proven that and be hoped for is the defence that appears in the Minority Re- ultimately auccessful.. The utmost have occasioned a misapprehension the question of divided respon|lish a Board to be the repository, of tion of piracy. sibility The Commissioners are all data connected with piracy, They strongly urged that it is of the bridge and engine room antil port That report, which hardly of opinion, therefore, that the which should meet at, say, quarterly the province of the Navy to protect signals of distress can be communi- recognises suficiently the important engagement of the guards should intervals to consider the question commerce particularly British comcated to a patrolling vessel in the distinction betwem piracies from be left entirely to the owners but generally with a view to being in a merce against the depredations of neighbourhood and it is submitted within and piracies from without, that the Captain Superintendent of position to supply information and pirates. Under the Hegulations the that with adequate patrol all that carries the Government acceptance Police should be invested with a advice when called upon. The idea

responsibility foz the defence of the

is necessary

in merchant vessels is of a responsibility, which it WON general power of supervision, of the Commissioners is to reduce local Mercantile Marine is thrown protection of the bridge and engine forced by circumstances to nasume

formalities, and therefore delay, to RECOMMENDATIONS. a minimum. The opinion, and zď, upon the toners and the officers of room and the arming of officers but which it cannot fully discharge, each vessel. The idea of a merchant Once pirates know that although to the furthest possible limits, and vice of the members of the Beard hip of the class plying in the Can they may be able to overcome relays the whole burden on the Navy, With the object of securing should be severally or jointly at the Lon Deite or on the cosat having nstance in the ship Stell they will apparently aheoiring owners, offi- opinions and auggestions regarding disposal of those concerned, and the citadel fortified, garrisoned, do not be able to get away, piracy will sees and crew from doing anything anti-piracy measures, the Commis available dati should be equally at fended" is as impracticable as it the suppression of piracy in the

rense

at all in their own interests. sionera wrote to the Hong Kong the disposal of each member, who is absurd. It is accepted as

Government action was required. Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese would have discretion to advise with axiomatic that it is the duty of the adjacent waters! concludes the to force a beginning. The last General Chamber of Commerce, the or without calling the remaining master and his officers to defend Minority Report is essentially a thirteen years have provided ideas, China Coast Officers. Guild, members to formal consultation. their ship but it is submitted that duty of His Majesty's Navy. An and considerable constructional Marine Engineers Guild of China, The responsibility for the collection adequate protection from piractical ficient service of patrols would not work, which should not now be in and a number of shipowners: Un- and custody of the record would attacks from within the ship is merely protect, commerce from at danger of losing their momentum, qualified support for what is naturally fall to the lot of the Har utterly impracticable in the case of tacks from without but would also and experience which is not likely known as the Minority Report" bour Master, with the Harbour vessels employed on the trades in act as absoluts deterrent to attacks to be ignored. There is now more extracts from which are given belico as the most convenient requestion. Vessels constricted for from within!

probability that the experience low, was given by Mesars Butterpository and the members to be commercial purposes to carry pas Commenting upon this report the gathered will be put to practical pee field and Bwire, the China Coast associated with him should include sengers and cargo from one port to "Bumming" Piracy Cammaraners without, rather than with, Gorera

interference. Officers and Marine Engineers the Captain Superintendent of another canot be converted into say, in effect, that the Hong Kongment "