Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-18
Regarded as Significant"

Probably the most significant of these
-secret ORDERS" il is said. are those
said to have been found on the British
steamer Woodfield. which are quoted
as follows:
stances is this paper to be allowed to
fall into the hands of the enemy.
This paper is for the masters per-
sonal information. 1t is not to be
is to be kept in safety in a place
where il can be destroyed at a mo-
ments notice. Such portions as call
Tor immediate action may be COM
Hunicated verbally to the officers con-
cerned. 18th February. 1915.
instructions regarding submarines
applicable to vessels carrying de-
otensive armament:
~. l.-Defensively armed vessels should
follow generally the instructions for
ordinary merchant ships.
I'm submarine waters guns should
be kept in instant readiness.
3.-If submarine is obviously pur-
suing a ship by day and it is evident to
'the master that she has hostile inten-
lions. the ship pursued should open fire
In self-defcnse, notwithstanding the
submarine may not have committed
definite hostile act. such as firing a gun
sor torpedo.
sl"i.-ln view of the great difficulty in
Distinguishing d friend from an enemy
At night, FIRE should not be opened
after dark unless it is absolutely GER
tain that the vessel fired at is hostile
Before opening fire the British
colors should be hoisted
~ is essential that fire should not
4e opened under neutral colors"
= Additional Orders" Quoted.
Orders taken from the English steam
Or Linkmoor are quoted as follows:
Admiral Superintendent officer. NAL
ia, June. 1915. instructions to British
merchant vessels passing through
the Mediterranean sea:
1t is now certain that there are enc
my submarines at sea in the Mediter-
rrAnean. In order to avoid attack Won
are 10 keep out OF the track OF ship
ping 1ou are to darken ship at night
and are not to show navigation lights
except at discretion, to avoid collision
and all nights are to be eXtinguished
when necessity is passed. You are to
carry out the procedure recommended
by the admiralty in their printed in
sructions il, hostile submarine is
sIghted.
Accompanying Memorandum.
In the accompanying memorandum.
the German amba ssador id, in part:
Even before the outbreak of the
present war the British government
mad given English shipping companies
the opportunity to arm their merchant
vessels with guns. On March IS. 1919
winston Churchill. then first lord of
the admiralty, made the declaration in
the British parliament exhibit ID that
the admiralty had called upon the shin
owners TO arm d number of frst-class
liners Tor protection against danger
1nenaced in certain cases by fast aux
Hilary cruisers of other powers: the
liners were not, however. to assume the
character Of auxiliary cruisers them
selves The government desired to
place at the disposal of the shipowners
the necessary guns. suficient ammuni.
tIon and suitable personnel for the
training of the gun crews
The English shipowners have readily
responded to the call of the admiralty
Thus Sir Owen Philippe. president Of
the Royal Mail steam Packet COMPANY,
vss able to inform the stockholders OF
his company In May, 1913 that the
equipped with guns; Furthermore. the
british admiralty published in January.
Iclf. list, according TO which twenty
Jne steamers Of various English lines
carried guns aft.
"As matter OF fact, German cruisers
sycertsined soon after the outbreak of
Tie war that English liners were arm
&C. For example, the steamer La Cor
1entins of the Houlder Line Of Liver
pool, which was captured by the Ger
man auxiliary cruiser Kronprinz Fried
Jtch Wilhelm on October I, 1914, had
TWO 4-I-inch guns aft. On February J.
1eio, German submarine was sheiled
In the channel by an English yacht"