PUBLIC APPROVAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 9

PUBLIC APPROVAL

DEALING WITH PIRATES

(British Official Wifeless.)

(Received September 4, 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, September 3.

The prompt measures decided upon at yesterday's meeting of Ministers has been received with general approval, and satisfaction is also expressed at the Government's acceptance of France's proposal for a meeting of Mediterranean Powers. It is assumed that the meeting will take place at or near Geneva at the same time as the meeting of the Assembly of the League of Nations.

Piratical attacks on merchantmen in the Mediterranean—one of the great highways of the world and more crowded with shipping of all nationalities than any other sea route except the English Channel—has aroused public feeling to a high pitch of indignation which reached a climax when the news of the wanton-and unprovoked attack on H.M.S. Havock was received. It is recognised that the measures of self-defence by immediate counterattack enjoined upon the Fleet represent the obvious course of action to deal with pirates. The "Morning Post," discussing the torpedo attack on the Havock, says: "It is not known under what flag this submarine was sailing or where- she came from. But we do know that there were only a dozen submarines in commission in Spain at the outbreak of the civil war. Of that number one has since been sunk and one disabled. Of the remainder, General Franco has one or two and the Spanish Government eight or nine. But the Spanish Government's submarines are believed to be inactive, chiefly from lack of competent officers, and . General Franco's original submarine force could hardly account for so many submarine attacks on merchant shipping at such

widely separated points. Whatever is the explanation of this mystery, we can only hope that it will be solved soon—as it may be when a British warship comes up with the culprit at his unlawful" practices."