§ 19. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there have recently been any outbreaks of piracy in the China seas; and how many and what vessels of His Majesty's Fleet are now stationed in those waters?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThere have been no reported cases of piracy on the high sea since the case of the "Irene" in October, which was widely reported in the Press. In the same period, however, there have been six cases of piracy in the Yangtse and West River, and in the Canton Delta, of which four were frustrated—one by the armed guard carried in the ship and the others by naval action.
I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of His Majesty's ships now serving on the China station.
§ Following are the particulars:
| Cruisers | 5 |
| Aircraft Carrier | 1 |
| Destroyers (including Leaders) | 18 |
| Sloops | 4 |
| Gunboats (1 in reserve) | 18 |
| Despatch Vessel | 1 |
| Submarine Depot Ships | 2 |
| Submarines | 12 |
| Submarine Tender | 1 |
| Special Service Vessel | 1 |
| Armed Launches | 3 |