The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-08-17

pains.
But out on the China coast
pirates thrive today just a. they
have for many. many years They
are an institution.
The capture and lcoting Of the
British-f1ag coaster shen Hwa last
week represented one Of the two
typical methods used by modern
pirates.
As the little passenger cargo
steamer slogged merrily along.
fleet Of junks teeming with bold
coolies surrounded the shen Hwa,
held fast with boat hooks and
graphing irons. and the pirates
swarmed aboard and took charge
fore and aft
One reason that method works
50 simply is because OF the vast
fleets Of fishing junks which popu-
late the coastal waters. It's i'm
practical for coasting vessels to
attempt to skirt the numerous
groups. because their number and
size (oh they all starve as there
must be at least one fishing junk
for every fishD necessitate going
many miles out of the way to
avoid them. So sometimes when
ship passes through q fleet Of
fishing junks," they turn out TO
be pirates-and then it's too late.
And that's howcome the pirates
took the Shen Hwa- They plum
dered and preached cargo to the
tune of $3.50 900: their loot was
loaded into the junks alongside and
the ship allowed to proceed. FIRE.
quently the Chinese pirates run the
ship onto the most convenient
beach and loot with leisure.
A number of Chinese passengers
were seized from the Shen Hwa.
and so far as we know. are still
being held for ransom. AL the
frills, see?
That piracy in those waters II a
constant threat, all eoasting YES
sells plying those waters bear mute
testimony.
All such ships wear q distinctive
gadget that's fitted vertically to
the ships side just sbaft the navi-
cation bridge; it's sort Of a heavy
steel picket-fence spread fanwise.
It's a complement to the bridge
design itself, the after bulkhead of
which is entirely Of steel without
windows and with heavy steel
doors with snap locks. That In
penetrable wall is sheer from the
top of the flying-bridge right down
to the main deck; the steel fence
often highly ornate with gilt and
bright paints a continuation of
1t to keep pirates from climbing
around the cupboard edges.
Thus. the ship is divided into
two portions: aft Of the bridge for
passengers. the bridge and forward
Is strictly private property.
Because the second common
technique used by pirates is the
grsndpappy Of today's famous
Fifth Columns"
The pirates-snywhere from 10
to so strong-buy tickets and take
passage on the ship. In the middle
of the night while the ship ploughs
peacefully along. the pirates quiz
city and quickly DO their stuff.
Three or four Of them slip up 70
the bridge and cut the threats Of
the mate. the quartermaster at the
wheel. and anybody else who hap
pens to be handy. One pirate then
mans the wheel and heads for the
beach.
Meanwhile. a similar party ID
being staged down in the engine
and firerooms. The skipper. mates
and other officers and seamen are
taken care Of as they sleep.
When the ship is wrecked on the
. nearest sandy beach. cargo Is
broached. often with the aid Of the
pirates pals who furnish junks or
; other transportation.
Providing the pirates can first
. seize the navigation bridge-upor
, which the entire plan hinges. and
hence the forbidding steel bulk.
, head and picket fence to keer
, everybody aft where they are vir.
fsaafiv r,owerisss- shev offe, 80,