MODERN PIRACY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18324, 14 February 1923, Page 9

MODERN PIRACY.

JAPANESE DESPERADOES. MOTOR SHIP ROBBED. CREW REPORTED MURDERED [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY. Feb. 7. An amazing and gruesome story of modern piracy has been told by passengers on a Japanese liner -which has just reached Sydney. It is reported that a steamer of 740 tons set out from Okhotski Sea, Japan, carrying 47 cavalry rifles and a large quantity of revolvers. Some seamen were under the belief that the vessel was to engage in the mining of alluvial gold in Northern Saghaliea. While steaming from Alexandrovsk to Nikolaievok, the captain and his officers called the crew together, and threatened to kill and throw overboard any man who refused to sign a pledge to obey their command in entering upon piracy. Not long after that they ran across two Russian motor vessels, and ordered them to. stop under the pretence of receiving a supply of fresh water. The Japanese captain ordered his men on board one motor ship, and they took away everything they could find. Tho captain and crew of the motor ship, numbering 11 Russians, are alleged to have been murdered and thrown into the sea. The pirates went on to Odomari, and thence to Otaru. It was stated that the ringleader and his officers left the shij> at one of these ports. The ringleader was subsequently arrested by the Japanese police pending further investigations.