Historical Documents - Office of the Historian

[Exhibit 3—Translation]

Memorandum of the German Government of October 13, 1914, Concerning the Treatment of Armed Merchant Vessels in Neutral Ports

[October 13, 1914]

An official notice appearing in the Westminster Gazette of September 21, 1914, states that the Department of State at Washington has ruled that ships of belligerent nations when equipped with ammunition and armament shall be treated nevertheless, while in American ports, as merchant ships, provided the armament serves for defensive purposes only. This ruling wholly fails to comply with the principles of neutrality. The equipment of British merchant vessels with artillery is for the purpose of making armed resistance against German cruisers. Resistance of this sort is contrary to international law, because in a military sense a merchant vessel is not permitted to defend itself against a war vessel, an act of resistance giving the warship the right to send the merchant ship to the bottom with crew and passengers. It is a question whether or not ships thus armed would be admitted into ports of a neutral country at all. Such ships, in any event, should not receive any better treatment in neutral ports than a regular warship, and should be subject at least to the rules issued by neutral nations restricting the stay of a warship. If the Government of the United States considers that it fulfils its duty as a neutral nation by confining the admission of armed merchant ships to such ships as are equipped for defensive purposes only, it is pointed out that so far as determining the warlike character of a ship is concerned, the distinction between the defensive and offensive is irrelevant. The destination of a ship for use of any kind in war is conclusive, and restrictions as to the extent of armament affords no guarantee that ships armed for defensive purposes only will not be used for offensive purposes under certain circumstances.

[Exhibit 4—Translation]

Digest of Cases in Which Enemy Merchant Ships Have Fired on German or Austro-Hungarian Submarines

[Page 190]

Date	Place	Nationality and name of the ship	Particulars of surrounding circumstances
1915 Apr. 11	South North Sea, near the Nord-hinder lightship.	Unknown steamer	Steamer without a flag. Steamer saw periscope; opened gunfire at about 3,000 meters and turned on U . . . Report of the shells could be heard near the boat (about 15 or 20 shots).
Apr. 28	North Sea, about 60 nautical miles NE. of the mouth of the Tyne.	Unknown steamer of medium size.	Steamer was sighted running onward, suddenly opened fire at about 3,000 meters without hoisting flag. On account of her head-on position it could not be seen whether she bore neutral marks. From the impact of the shots the guns were from 5 to 7 centimeters. U . . . escaped the well-directed fire by speedily submerging.
May 29	West entrance to the English Channel, near Ouessant (Ushant Island).	English S. S. Demerara.	U . . . chased the steamer and tried when 4,500 meters off to bring her to a halt by firing warning guns. Steamer turned off and returned the fire.
June 3	West entrance to the English Channel, 50 nautical miles south of the Scilly Isles.	Unknown steamer	U . . . tried to bring the steamer to a halt by firing warning shots with her artillery. The steamer returned the fire with a poop-gun.
June 14	West of the Hebrides (about 30 nautical miles off Lewis).	Two unknown steamers.	The two steamers were running close together—at about 4,000 meters—both opened fire on U . . . with small caliber poop-guns. Shots hit sideways very bad. Speedily submerging, running deep; so submarine attack hopeless.
Aug. 14	Irish Sea_	Large English steamer of the Royal Mail Line.	U . . . was fired on suddenly by the steamer without provocation from a distance of 8,000 meters. Shots fell short. No attack was attempted on the steamer.
Aug. 18	Bristol Channel	Unknown steamer	Tried to bring steamer to a halt by gunfire after warning. When steamer saw that U-boat was waiting, she suddenly opened fire with a gun from the promenade deck.
1915 Sept. 10	Western Mediterranean.	Unknown steamer	A steamer was challenged to show her flag; she turned away without hoisting the flag and opened fire with a 10-centimeter poop-gun on the U-boat, which escaped the firing by speedily submerging.
Oct. 7	Middle Mediterranean.	French S. S. Amiral Hametin.	U . . . signaled the steamer to stop; she turned away and ran on a zigzag course. The U-boat tried to bring the steamer to a halt by artillery fire; when about 3,000 meters distant she returned the fire. It was some time before the steamer stopped. She was sunk later.
Nov. 3	Western Mediterranean.	English transport steamer Woodfield.	The steamer did not stop at the warning gun. At a distance of 6,000 meters she returned the fire with a small gun. She was forced to stop by artillery fire and her crew list showed that the steamer carried gunners and enlisted men of the Navy as members of her crew.
Nov. 5	Western Mediterranean.	Unknown steamer	A large steamer was chased by U . . . after being challenged in vain. The steamer returned the fire with a large gun. The chase had to be given up.
Nov. 6	Eastern Mediterranean.	English tank steamer Lumina.	The steamer was challenged to stop by a warning gun. She turned about, ran away, and returned the fire with a poop-gun. She was compelled to stop by artillery fire and later was sunk.
Nov. 11	Western Mediterranean.	English S. S. City of Marseilles.	U . . ., after warning, tried to stop a large freight steamer by artillery fire. The steamer turned away and returned the fire with two guns of about 10 centimeters. The U-boat had to give up the chase; the steamer got away. A press telegram of January 1, 1916, from Bombay told the incident in detail; the steamer claimed she had sunk the U-boat.
Nov. 30	Middle Mediterranean.	Unknown steamer	U . . ., after a warning gun, tried to stop a large steamer by artillery fire. The steamer turned away and returned the fire with a small gun.
Dec. 8	Eastern Mediterranean.	do	The steamer was approached under water. She fired with a poop-gun on the periscope as soon as it emerged.
Dec. 13	Middle Mediterranean.	Unknown English steamer.	U . . . tried to stop by artillery fire a large steamer with poop-guns that showed no flag. The steamer hoisted the English flag and returned the fire with two guns.
Dec. 14	do	Unknown steamer.	U . . . approached the steamer, which stopped at sight of the boat, and ordered her to show her flag. The steamer speeded away, keeping up a brisk fire from a poop-gun.
1916 Jan. 17	do	do	U . . . ordered a steamer, apparently in ballast, that was sighted on a westerly coast, to stop. The steamer turned about, ran away, and fired with a poop-gun.
Jan. 17	do	English S.S. Melanie	U . . . signaled a flush-decked freight steamer, with raised forecastle and cabin, of about 3,000 tons, sailing under the Dutch flag, to send a boat and have the ship’s papers examined. This was done after awhile. As U . . ., which for safety’s sake had gone under, came to the surface about 1,000 meters away from the steamer near the ship’s boat, the steamer opened fire with two guns of medium caliber and machine guns so briskly that the U . . . barely saved herself by speedily submerging. Throughout the action the steamer displayed the Dutch flag; she bore the name of Melanie, which is found not in the Dutch, but in the English marine list.

[Exhibit 5]1

Confidential

Instructions for Guidance in the Use, Care, and Maintenance of Armament in Defensively Armed Merchant Ships

general

1. Ratings embarked as gun’s crew will sign the ship’s articles at the rate of pay communicated.

2. They are to obey the orders of the master and officers of the ship. If they think it necessary to make a complaint against any order, they are to obey the order and make their complaint in writing, asking that it may be forwarded to the proper authorities.

3. The ratings are not required for duties unconnected with the armament except in case of emergency, but they are to assist at all times in the welfare of the ship and look after the cleanliness of their berths.

4. They are to keep watch and watch at sea, and also when the ship is anchored in any place liable to attack by submarines.

5. They will receive their pay through the master of the ship. They will not mess with the crew, but in one of the officers’ messes as the master may decide.

6. Uniform is not to be worn in neutral ports.

7. A brief report is to be rendered by the senior rating on the 1st of each month, countersigned by the master, and sent to:

The Director of Trade Division,

Admiralty, Whitehall, S. W.

drill and maintenance of gun

8. The ratings embarked are entirely responsible for the efficiency in all respects of the gun and ammunition, which should be ready day and night.

9. The senior rating is to arrange with the master to detail the necessary additional men to complete the gun’s crew up to the numbers required by the drill book.

10. One of the ratings is to act gunlayer and the other as breech worker. The remaining numbers should be told off to act as sightsetter, projectile loader, and cartridge loader, etc.

11. Arrangements are to be made with the master to detail a sufficient number of hands, over and above the gun’s crew, to supply ammunition to the gun on going into action.

12. A ready supply of 10 complete rounds, with percussion tubes in the cartridges, is to be kept at the gun day and night. Care should be taken that a supply of one percussion tube to each cartridge is kept aside for action, and this supply of tubes is never to be encroached on for practice firing.

13. The senior rating should arrange with the master for the instruction of the ratings told off as gun’s crew and ammunition supply party.

14. A drill book is supplied for information, but it is not necessary that the gun’s crew should be burdened with details, provided that they understand what is required when the gun is to be fought.

15. Percussion firing should always be used, as it is the most certain means of discharging the gun; and therefore—

(a): Cartridges, in ready supply only, should be kept ready tubed with percussion tubes. Tubes not required for ready supply of cartridges should be retained in their sealed boxes to preserve them from damp.
(b): Aiming practice with a percussion lanyard should be carried out daily. It is not necessary to fire a tube in this practice, but the breech worker should be exercised at the same time in cocking the striker while the breech is open, and in hooking on the firing lanyard and passing it to the gunlayer.

Note: The present allowance of percussion tubes is one per cartridge. Electric firing mechanism and batteries are therefore to be kept efficient in every respect in case the supply of percussion tubes becomes insufficient, from damp or other causes.

[Page 192]

16. Great attention is to be paid to the ready supply of ammunition, to keep it clean and dry. If tubes and cartridges are not kept dry there is considerable danger of hanging fire. The projectiles are to be lightly oiled. In case the cartridges are suspected to have become wet, they should be laid aside until return to harbour.

17. For the maintenance of the gun and mounting it is to be borne in mind that “lubrication is the secret of efficiency in gun machinery.” All oil channels should be seen clear of vaseline and filled with oil. It is to be remembered that vaseline is a preservative only; oil is a lubricant.

Each morning and evening the bore is to [be] seen clear, recoil cylinders filled, striker protrusion gauged, and the gun trained and elevated to both extremes.

The gun is to be cleaned twice a day, gear being supplied by the master.

Brickdust is not to be used on machined surfaces.

action

The master is responsible for handling the ship and for opening and ceasing fire. He has been furnished with instructions which will enable him to do this to the best advantage. The duty of the gun’s crew is to fight the gun under the general direction of the master, who will communicate to them so much of the instructions as he may consider necessary to enable them to fight the gun to the best advantage.

In action the following instructions should be carried out:

(1)

When in submarine waters, everything should be in a state of readiness, but the gun should not be kept actually loaded.

(2)

When the enemy is engaged—

(a): The point of aim should be the centre of the water line.
(b): It is to be remembered that “over” shots are useless. A short shot by causing a splash confuses the enemy. It may ricochet into the enemy. If the shell bursts on striking the water—as it usually does—some fragments are likely to hit the enemy. To get the best result, at least half of the shots fired should fall short.

(3)

The master will probably keep the submarine astern so that little deflection will be necessary.

(4)

It is not advisable to open fire at a range greater than 800 yards, unless the enemy has already opened fire, for the following reasons—

(a): The ammunition supply is limited.
(b): Accurate shooting under probable existing conditions can not be expected at greater ranges.

(5)

When in action and a miss-fire occurs with a percussion, tube, the following procedure is to be adopted—

(a): The B. M. lever is to be tapped to ensure it is closed.
(b): The striker is to be recocked.

If the gun does not then fire, the striker is to be taken out to ensure that the point is not broken. If unbroken the breech is to be opened and the cartridge is to be thrown overboard, it having been ascertained that the percussion tube has been inserted.

The gun is then to be reloaded.

instructions for carrying out firing practice

1.

In order to ensure that the gun is maintained in an efficient condition, one round is to be fired every two months.

2.

In order to prevent false alarms it is essential that the firing referred to in paragraph 1 shall take place in clear weather and out of sight of land and of other ships.

3.

If convenient a cask or other suitable object should be dropped as a target, and the gun should be fired when the range is about 800 yards.

4.

The gun’s crew and ammunition supply party should be exercised on the day previous to the practice, and also immediately before firing.

5.

Before practice firing the following procedure is to be carried out:

(a)

Recoil cylinders and tanks are to be seen filled.

(b)

Bore is to be seen clear.

(c)

Moveable objects in the way of blast from the gun are to be removed.

(d)

The striker is to be examined to see—

(1): That sheath net is screwed up and keep pin in place and intact.
(2): That needle set and check-nuts are screwed up.
(3): That striker does not protrude with B. M. lever in open position.
(4): That striker does not move forward till marks on breech block and gun are in line.
(5): That safety stop is correct and keep-screw is in place.

Admiralty, 7 May 1915 .

[Exhibit 6]1

Confidential

Instructions for Guidance in the Use, Care, and Maintenance of Armament in Defensively Armed Merchant Ships

General

Not applicable to ocean-going vessels permanently armed	{	1. Ratings embarked as gun’s crew will sign the ship’s articles at the rate of pay communicated.
		2. They are to obey the orders of the master and officers of the ship. If they think it necessary to make a complaint against any order they are to obey the order and make their complaint in writing, asking that it may he forwarded to the proper authorities.
		3. The ratings are not required for duties unconnected with the armament except in case of emergency, but they are to assist at all times in the welfare of the ship and look after the cleanliness of their berths.
		4. They are to keep watch and watch at sea, and also when the ship is anchored in any place liable to attack by submarines.
		5. They will receive their pay through the master of the ship. They will not mess with the crew, but as the master may decide.
		6. Uniform is not to be worn in neutral ports.
		7. A brief report is to be rendered by the senior rating on the 1st of each month, countersigned by the master, and sent to: The Director of Trade Division, Admiralty, Whitehall, S. W.

drill and maintenance of gun

8. The ratings embarked are entirely responsible for the efficiency in all respects of the gun and ammunition, which should be ready day and night.

9. The senior rating is to arrange with the master to detail the necessary additional men to complete the gun’s crew up to the numbers required by the drill book.

10. One of the ratings is to act as gunlayer and the other as breech worker. The remaining numbers should be told off to act as sightsetter, projectile loader, and cartridge loader, etc.

11. Arrangements are to be made with the master to detail a sufficient number of hands, over and above the gun’s crew, to supply ammunition to the gun on going into action.

12. A ready supply of 10 complete rounds, with percussion tubes in the cartridges, is to be kept at the gun day and night. Care should be taken that a supply of one percussion tube to each cartridge is kept aside for action, and this supply of tubes is never to be encroached on for practice firing.

13. The senior rating should arrange with the master for the instruction of the ratings told off as gun’s crew and ammunition supply party.

14. A drill book is supplied for information, but it is not necessary that the gun’s crew should be burdened with details, provided that they understand what is required when the gun is to be fought.

[Page 194]

15. Percussion firing should always be used, as it is the most certain means of discharging the gun; and therefore—

(a): Cartridges, in ready supply only, should be kept ready tubed with percussion tubes. Tubes not required for ready supply of cartridges should be retained in their sealed boxes to preserve them from damp.
(b): Aiming practice with a percussion lanyard should be carried out daily. It is not necessary to fire a tube in this practice, but the breech worker should be exercised at the same time in cocking the striker while the breech is open and in hooking on the firing lanyard and passing it to the gunlayer.

Note.—The present allowance of percussion tubes is one per cartridge. Electric firing mechanism and batteries are therefore to be kept efficient in every respect in case the supply of percussion tubes becomes insufficient from damp or other causes.

16. Great attention is to be paid to the ready supply of ammunition to keep it clean and dry. If tubes and cartridges are not kept dry, there is considerable danger of hanging fire. The projectiles are to be lightly oiled. In case the cartridges are suspected to have become wet, they should be laid aside until return to harbour.

17. For the maintenance of the gun and mounting it is to be borne in mind that “lubrication is the secret of efficiency in gun machinery.” All oil channels should be seen clear of vaseline and filled with oil. It is to be remembered that vaseline is a preservative only; oil is a lubricant.

Each morning and evening the bore is to [be] seen clear, recoil cylinders filled, striker protrusion gauged, and the gun trained and elevated to both extremes.

The gun is to be cleaned twice a day, gear being supplied by the master.

Brickdust is not to be used on machined surfaces.

action

The master is responsible for handling the ship and for opening and ceasing fire. He has been furnished with instructions which will enable him to do this to the best advantage. The duty of the gun’s crew is to fight the gun under the general direction of the master, who will communicate to them so much of the instructions as he may consider necessary to enable them to fight the gun to the best advantage.

In action the following instructions should be carried out:

(1)

When in submarine waters, everything should be in a state of readiness, but the gun should not be kept actually loaded.

(2)

When the enemy is engaged—

(a): The point of aim should be the centre of the water line.
(b): It is to be remembered that “over” shots are useless. A short shot by causing a splash confuses the enemy. It may ricochet into the enemy. If the shell bursts on striking the water—as it usually does—some fragments are likely to hit the enemy. To get the best result, at least half of the shots fired should fall short.

(3)

The master will probably keep the submarine astern so that little deflection will be necessary.

(4)

It is not advisable to open fire at a range greater than 800 yards, unless the enemy has already opened fire, for the following reasons:

(a): The ammunition supply is limited.
(b): Accurate shooting under probable existing conditions can not be expected at greater ranges.

(5)

When in action and a miss-fire occurs with a percussion tube, the following procedure is to be adopted:

(a): The B. M. lever is to be tapped to ensure it is closed.
(b): The striker is to be recocked.

If the gun does not then fire, the striker is to be taken out to ensure that the point is not broken. If unbroken the breech is to be opened and the cartridge is to be thrown overboard, it having been ascertained that the percussion tube has been inserted.

The gun is then to be reloaded.

[Page 195]

instructions for carrying out firing practice

1.

In order to ensure that the gun is maintained in an efficient condition, one round is to be fired every two months.

2.

In order to prevent false alarms it is essential that the firing referred to in paragraph 1 shall take place in clear weather and out of sight of land and of other ships.

3.

If convenient a cask or other suitable object should be dropped as a target, and the gun should be fired when the range is about 800 yards.

4.

The gun’s crew and ammunition supply party should be exercised on the day previous to the practice, and also immediately before firing.

5.

Before practice firing the following procedure is to be carried out:

(a)

Recoil cylinders and tanks are to be seen filled.

(b)

Bore is to be seen clear.

(c)

Moveable objects in the way of blast from the gun are to be removed.

(d)

The striker is to be examined to see—

(1)

That sheath net is screwed up and keep pin in place and intact.

(2)

That needle set and check-nuts are screwed up.

(3)

That striker does not protrude with B. M. lever in open position.

(4)

That striker does not move forward till marks on breech block and gun are in line.

(5)

That safety stop is correct and keep-screw is in place.

Admiralty, 7 May 1915.

(6)

In guns fitted with “A” breech mechanism, the mechanism is never to be taken apart.

Paragraphs (1), (2), and (5) do not apply, but the following should be seen to:

(i): The nut retaining striker must be seen screwed up and keep-screw in place.
(ii): The needle retaining-nut should be seen screwed up taut.

[Exhibit 7]1

Confidential

Addenda to Instructions for Guidance in the Use, Care, and Maintenance of Armament in Defensively Armed Merchant Ships

1.: The master should arrange wherever possible that the space in the immediate vicinity of the gun is railed off, and passengers and other unauthorised persons should not be allowed near the gun.
2.: A notice to this effect should be posted up near the gun.
3.: When the ship is in harbour, one of the two ratings is always to be on board to keep guard on the gun and ammunition, and the master is to use his discretion as to keeping both ratings on board, should he consider such a course to be desirable.
4.: The gun is to be kept covered at all times when not in use.
5.: Whenever the ships anchor in the vicinity of a man-of-war, a request should be made to the commanding officer of the man-of-war for an armourer to inspect the gun and mounting.

Admiralty, 27 May 1915 .

[Exhibit 9]1 Confidential
No. 45
In No Circumstances is this Paper to be Allowed to Fall into the Hands of the Enemy This paper is for the master’s personal information. It is not to be copied, and when not actually in use is to be kept in safety in a place where it can be destroyed at a moment’s notice. [Page 196] Such portions as call for immediate action may be communicated verbally to the officers concerned.

25 February 1915 .

Instructions Regarding Submarines Applicable to Vessels Carrying a Defensive Armament

1.: Defensively armed vessels should follow generally the instructions for ordinary merchant ships.
2.: In submarine waters guns should be kept in instant readiness.
3.: If a submarine is obviously pursuing a ship, by day, and it is evident to the master that she has hostile intentions, the ship pursued should open fire in self-defence, notwithstanding the submarine may not have committed a definite hostile act such as firing a gun or torpedo.
4.: In view of the great difficulty in distinguishing a friend from an enemy at night, fire should not be opened after dark unless it is absolutely certain that the vessel fired, at is hostile.
5.: Before opening fire, the British colours should be hoisted.

It is essential that fire should not be opened under neutral colours.

[Exhibit 10]1 Confidential No. 291
In No Circumstances is this Paper to be Allowed to Fall into the Hands of the Enemy This paper is for the master’s personal information. It is not to be copied, and when not actually in use is to be kept in safety in a place where it can be destroyed at a moment’s notice.
Such portions as call for immediate action may be communicated verbally to the officers concerned.

April 1915.

Instructions Regarding Submarines Applicable to Vessels Carrying a Defensive Armament

1.

Defensively armed vessels should follow generally the instructions for ordinary merchant ships.

2.

In submarine waters guns should be kept in instant readiness.

3.

If a submarine is obviously pursuing a ship by day, and it is evident to the master that she has hostile intentions, the ship pursued should open fire in self-defence, notwithstanding the submarine may not have committed a definite hostile act, such as firing a gun or torpedo.

4.

In view of the great difficulty in distinguishing a friend from an enemy at night, fire should not be opened after dark unless it is absolutely certain that the vessel fired at is hostile.

5.

Before opening fire the British colours must be hoisted.

It is essential that fire should not be opened under neutral colours.

6.

If a defensively armed vessel is pursued by a submarine the master has two alternatives:

(a): To open fire at long range immediately it is certain that the submarine is really in pursuit.
(b): To retain fire until the submarine has closed to a range, say 800 yards, at which fire is likely to be effective.
: In view of the very great difficulty of distinguishing between friendly and hostile submarines at long range (one British submarine has already been fired at by a merchant vessel which erroneously supposed herself to be pursued by the submarine), it is strongly recommended that course (b) should be adopted by all defensively armed ships.

7.

A submarine’s flag is no guide to her nationality, as German submarines frequently fly British colours.

8.

Vessels carrying a defensive armament and proceeding to neutral ports must not be painted in neutral colours or wear a neutral flag.

9.

It is recommended that in neutral ports, particularly those of Spain, the armament should be concealed as far as possible. A canvas cover is recommended for this purpose.

[Exhibit 11]1

Secret

Memorandum for Issue to Masters of Transports Carrying Troops

use of rifle and machine-gun fire by troops on board transports against enemy submarines or torpedo craft

(1): In daylight a submarine will probably attack while submerged with only her periscope showing.
: At night, in moonlight, a submarine may attack while on the surface or with only her conning tower above water owing to the difficulty of seeing through the periscope at night.
(2): In either case heavy rifle or machine-gun fire will make it more difficult for a submarine to make a successful shot with a torpedo. If submerged, no injury will be done to her, but a good volume of fire falling just short of the periscope will make splashes which will render it difficult for the observer to see clearly through the periscope.
(3): When a destroyer escort is accompanying a transport, troops should not open fire on a submarine, as it may prevent a destroyer from ramming her, nor should their weapons be loaded, in order to avoid the possibility of an escorting vessel being fired on by mistake, especially at night.
(4): When no escort is provided, machine guns should be in readiness to open fire, and a strong party of riflemen should also be on duty.
(5): Military officers should be in command both of the machine guns and riflemen to control the fire.
(6): A military officer of the watch should be in command of the troops on deck. He should not order fire to be opened on a hostile submarine or torpedo vessel without the previous assent of the master or his representative—the ship’s officer of the watch.
(7): The object of those controlling the fire should be to keep the centre of the pattern just short of the hostile vessel.
(8): Machine-gun tripods can be lashed to the rails or other deck fittings. If there is motion on the ship and machine guns are fitted with elevating or training gear, it is advisable to disconnect it and point the gun by hand.
(9): Field guns with recoil mountings might possibly be secured on deck in such a manner as to permit of their being fired, but their arc of training would be very restricted, and it is unlikely that gun layers, without previous training afloat, could make satisfactory practice from a ship with motion on. Their use is not, therefore, recommended.
(10): In men-of-war it has been the practice for very many years to station sentries with ball cartridge on deck opposite the boats in the event of fire, collision, or other serious emergency likely to lead to the boats being required. Their duties are to prevent anyone getting into the boats or attempting to lower the boats without orders from the captain or his representative. This practice should be followed in transports.

Admiralty, 31 May 1915

.

[Exhibit 12]1

Admiral Superintendent’s Office,
Malta, June 1915.

Instructions to British Merchant Vessels Passing through the Mediterranean Sea

It is now certain that there are enemies’ submarines at sea in the Mediterranean.

[Page 198]

In order to avoid attack you are to keep out of the track of shipping.

You are to darken ship at night and are not to show navigation lights except, at discretion, to avoid collision, and all lights are to be extinguished when necessity is passed.

You are to carry out the procedure recommended by the Admiralty in their printed instructions if a hostile submarine is sighted.

Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1916, Supplement, The World War

The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State

Memorandum of the German Government of October 13, 1914, Concerning the Treatment of Armed Merchant Vessels in Neutral Ports

Digest of Cases in Which Enemy Merchant Ships Have Fired on German or Austro-Hungarian Submarines