Sessional_Paper_1927 — Page 82

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3.With grills placed to the best advantage, (which, of course, varies con- siderably in different types of ships), it should not be difficult to prevent this form of attack.

4. In this connection I would point out that grilles placed in such a position as to require frequent opening to strangers-e.g., in "Sunning", access to the galley where all Chinese food is prepared necessitated the constant opening of the grill-lose a great percentage of their efficiency.

5. I am of opinion that comparatively small structural alterations in many ships would to a large extent get over this.

6.-Another point that occurs to me is that the Indian Guards off duty would be in a better position to give assistance in case of sudden alarm, were their quarters inside the grilled area. (This does not matter so much in the case of river steamers, where only short trips are run and they can all be kept within grills while under way: but in coasting vessels it might be worth consideration.)

7. In ships fitted with W/T the sending out of wireless messages at routine times-say every two hours while on passage should give timely warning of a piracy having been committed, should they cease.

S. With reference to existing Regulations, page 5, para. 3, may I point out that in actual practice any officer whose duty brings him frequently within close contact with the compass-i.e., the Officer of the Watch and on occasions the Captain-would be unable to comply with this regulation on account of the magnetic effect a pistol would have on the compass, and it therefore appears that the regulation should be amended.

9.--Foreign passengers' accommodation should, of course, be so far as possible within grilled area so far as is practicable; this is usually the case. If foreign passengers -especially women-can be captured by the pirates, the duty of the ships' officers to their passengers forces them to carry out the demands of the pirates with regard to the movements of the ship."

Mr. J. M. MCHUTCHON:

..I would state it as my opinion that the report put forward by the Com- missioners representing the shipping interests (Owners and men) and known as the "Minority Report" contains the fullest possible constructive criticism which can be put forward, and that anything that has subsequently transpired has only tended to support their findings".

Mr. R. SUTHERLAND contributes the following letter on the subject in general, and the regulation of passenger traffic in particular, which he has addressed to the Com- mission :-

MR. R SUTHERLAND'S SCHEME.

HONG KONG, 24th January, 1927.

The Secretary,

The "SUNNING" Piracy Commission,

Dear Sir,

PRESENT.

In reply to your letter of the 7th December, I have now the honour of submitting my views on the question of prevention of piracy. In doing so, I am taking into con- sideration the various phases of actual piracy committed, and attempted piracy during recent years,