File No.

U.S.S. HELENA

YANGTZE PATROL FORCE

ASIATIC FLEET
UNITED STATES ASIATIC FLEET
YANGTZE PATROL
U.S.S. GUAM, FLAGSHIP

Passage Ichang, China, to Sankow, China. 19 March 1928

INSTRUCTIONS TO ARMED GUARDS ON YANGTZE RAPIDS SHIPS

1. By article No. 35, China navigation act. the ships of the Yangtze Rapids steamship Co. are entitled to fly the American Flag.

2. MISSION OF ARMED GUARD. The mission of the armed guard is primarily for the prevention of pirating. The secondary mission of the guard is to discourage transportation of military organizations upon Yangtze Rapids Ships. These two missions have been stated separately for the reason that the amount of action desired is not the same in both cases, as will be explained later.

3. It is not the intention of utilizing armed guard to enforce discipline on board the ships as would be done on a war ship. In cases endangering the lives, of foreigners especially, or endangering the ship, the guard should act. But as a rule, it is not intended that the armed guard take part in the internal organization of the ship.

4. "PIDGIN" PASSENGERS AND "PIDGIN" CARGO. "Pidgin" passengers and "Pidgin" cargo are passengers and cargo that come on board without paying fare or freight to the company. They do pay, however, to some member of the crew, and the abuse of the privilege has been so obnoxious that the company desires to stop it. Primarily, the matter of "Pidgin" passengers and cargo lies with the ship and not the guard. The guard will, however, do it's utmost to give normal support to ships authorities, but under no circumstances should the guard be permitted to injure a native or throw over board or otherwise destroy "Pidgin" cargo. In the event of overloading of the ship, extra cargo must be removed and guard will act under such circumstances.

5. In the guard's dealing with the crew or passengers, under no circumstances will force be used unless all other means have failed, and then only sufficient to quell the disorder. except in the most extreme case where self defense may demand, firearms will not be used.

6. The guard must keep in mind always that it must not lose face. No member of the guard should threaten. Guns and bayonets will be kept in the back ground and never shown prominently to the front for the purpose of threat. Should the guard be called upon to assist the ship's officers and to eject an undesirable person, rough handling of such passengers will not be tolerated. In this case keep in mind, fares may have been payed for passage and allowed time for the refund of money before ejection.

7. If fired upon by bandits ashore the guard will return the fire sufficient only to silence the firing from shore. If fired upon by military from shore or from sampancare must be exercised to find out whether the fire is directed at the ship or meant as a signal for the ship to stop or slow down. This is a very dangerous situation, and while not advising that the fire be not returned, fire should not be opened except by order of the Officer In Charge of the guard, and sufficiently only to accomplish the purpose. It is not desired to injure organized military unneccessarily even though they be at fault.