Pirate Attack!

Pirates off the coast of Somali attacked a French Naval Warship yesterday, mistaking it for a commercial cargo ship. The French crew's response to the attack was delayed by an inability to locate the official white Surrender Flag. By the time the Captain jury-rigged a napkin on a pole, the pirates had returned to their dinghies and roared away into the night.

The French Warship pursued but was only able to catch one of the pirate vessels, at which time the Captain dutifully tendered his surrender to the perplexed Somalis.

Commenting on the mistaken boarding of a Naval Warship, a pirate spokesman said, "It was the eye patches; our men can't see anything at night with those things. I don't know why 19th century pirates ever started wearing them."

via email