CHINESE PIRATES.

Shannon News, 7 January 1927, Page 2

CHINESE PIRATES.

METHODS OF WORK. MEN WHO KNOW THEIR JOB. The First Lord of the Admirality’s recent statement that the suppression of Chinese pirates costs the British Navy quite a considerable sum ’ annually will surprise those people who are unaware of the enterprising methods of these desperadoes. When Chinese pirates decide to attack a ship, they usually divide into two sections. Part of the band embark at a previous port dressed as passengers. The leaders,* often well-edu-cated men, travel first-class. The rest mingle with the crowd of Chinese in the steerage. The police search for weapons before sailing, but seldom succeed in catching old hands at the game. All goes well until the ship arrives off the pre-arranged rendezvous. Here in some bay near their stronghold the other section of the pirates await their victim. Suddenly a rifle-shot cracks — the signal for a simultaneous attack on every part of the ship. Each pirate knows his job. Some dash for the guards, who, taken by surprise, are shot and thrown overboard. Their keys are seized, the gates are unlocked, and the bridge* stormed. The British officers on duty are over-power-ed, and in an incredibly short time the ship is in the pirates’ hands. Convincing Orders. The leader of the gang usually speaks English. He orders the quartermaster to change course, a Mauser in his ribs enforcing the command. The engineroom is dealt with in the same way. Once the pirates are past the grilles that divide the ship resistance is useless. One British engineer preparing to, fight, was knocked on the head by his own Chinese fireman and pushed into an empty boiler. This action saved his life. Meanwhile the passengers. hurriedly give up their valuables and the purser is forced to deliver the safe keys. Here the pirates make their biggest haul. Next all the passengers are driven into the saloon and locked in. The cabins are thoroughly searched and the ship’s cargo got ready for unloading. By this time the rendezvous is reached. In the secluded bay the rest of the gang surround the vessel in junks and sampans. Into these the pirates ’ booty is quickly transferred. Lastly the pirates select several of the most prosperous-looking Chinese for ransom. Their fate will be weeks of misery while they are chained Up in some hill cave, and i fthc ransom is not ■forthconiing, their fate is terrible indent.

The pirates depart and the ship limps home as fast as she may to get her wounded to hospital. The pirates make for the mountains, where pursuit is impossible.