PIRACY IN CHINA SEAS

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 230, 29 September 1926, Page 9

PIRACY IN CHINA SEAS

LOOT FROM A ST^AMER. PERSONS HELD FOR RANSOM. SHANGHAI, July 17. Another vessel has been added to the list of piracy outrages eommit tecl by that notorious gang of pirates who have their stronghold at Bias Bay, not far from Hongkong. The steamer Kwanglee, a vessel of some 2000 tons, belonging to the China Mer chants' Steain Navigation Company, was captured by pirates while 011 her way from Shanghai to Canton. When the Kwanglee was within sight of Repulse Bay and onlv two and a-halt miles from Hongkong Jast Tuesday, a gang of pirates, about 40 111 nuniber, wbo bad sliipped as passengers in Shanghai, suddenly took command of tlie snip. Thrco pi rates, armed with revolvers, slipped down into the engine room and ordered the engineer 011 watch to make full speed, threatening to shoot him on the spot if he refused jto obey. Three other pirates stormcd the bridge and ordered the navigating officer to steer for Bias Bay; at the sanie time the other pirates took up strategic positions throughout the sliip. The captain and other Europeans 011 board were licrded into tlie cabin of the seoond officer and locked in, several pirates mounting guard over their prisoners. The pirates seized all tlie arms 011 tlie ship, hroke open tlie ship's safe and ransacked the contents. They also stole all the valuables and jewellery belonging to the officers and passengers. On reaehing Bias Bay tlie Kwanglee was run aground and the pirates made for the shore in two lifehoats, with their loot, estimated to be wortli some 200,000 dollars. The pirates also carried off seven wealtliy Chinese passengers to be held for ra.nsom. Before leaving the Kwanglee the pirates damaged the ship s boilers and also duniped some of the cai'go ovei'board . The Kwanglee was refloated 011 the next tide, minor repaifs were effectecl to the boilers, and tlie ship arrived in Canton, with 110 further mishap, on Thursday afternoon. The stronghold of tlie pirates at Bias Bay was shelled by a naval party fi'oni Hong Kong in January, 1925. following tlie piracy of the steamer Hong Hwa. For quite a, long time the pirates beliaved themselves; but npparently they thiuk that the "Britisli Lion" has gone to isleep, as this is the tliird piracy within the Tast seven montlis. * *' ' --