Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-11
order 1. that "a ship of war shall in

order 1. that "a ship of war shall in
clude an armed ship.
1.-THE German government has ne
= doubt that merchantmen acquire a bel
: .liaerent character through - armins
with cannon, no matter whether the
guns, shah serve only for defense OF
for attack. 1t considers every wariikf
activity of enemy merchantmen as con.
trary to international law, although II
also takes into consideration the oppoS.
ing view through the fact that it treats
the crews of such ships not as pirates
but as belligerents.
Its standpoint is specified in detail
in a memorandum communicated Octo.
Der, 1914. to the American government
and in content to other neutral powers
regarding the treatment of armed mer-
chantmen In neutral harbors (append1S
81.
THE neutral powers in part have
adopted the British view and, accord
men of belligerent powers to remain
in their borders and roadsteads. not
restricted TO the limits which they
have imposed on warships by their
neutrality declaration. Some, however,
have adopted the opposite standpoint
and subjected merchantmen of bel
ligerents TO the neutrality rules eHec-
tive in the case of warships.
I'll In the course of the war the
arming of British merchantmen was
carried out more and more generally.
Numerous cases came to light from the
reports of the German naval forces IN
which British merchantmen not only
offered armed resistance to German
warships, but, on their own part. pro-
ceeded without further ado to attack
them. in which attacks they frequently
made use of false colors.
Initiated by Englishmen.
"A compendium of such cases is given
in appendix four, which, from the ma
ture of the case. can comprise only a
part of the attacks actually made. The
compendium also shows that the de-
scribed procedure was not limited to
English merchantmen, put was imi-
tated by merchantmen of England's
allies.
THE explanation or the described
procedure of armed English mer-
chantmen is contained in confidential
instructions of the British admiralty.
which are photograpnically reproduced
in appendices five to twelve, found by
German naval forces upon a captured
ship. These instructions regulate in
merchantmen upon German sub
marines. They contain precise regula-
lions concerning the reception, treat
ment. activity and control of British
gun crews taken over from merchant
ships. who. for example. must not wear
uniforms in neutral harbors. and hence
obviously belong to the British war
marine.
Above all, however, It Is made mani
fest therefrom that armed ships do not
wait for any action of German sub
marines under the laws of the sea. but
are to attack them without further
ado.
Rules for Armed Ships.
I'm this regard the following regula-
lions are especially instructive:
"fA)-The rules for use of merchant
ships which are armed for defense pur-
poses appendices and g. declare in
article (battle) under section that
it is not advisable to open fire at
greater distance than 500 yards. unless
the enemy has already opened fire.
According to this a merchant ship is
in principle obligated to open fire with
out regard to the conduct of the sub
marine.
II s,==rhs -advfees, concerning sub
marines. issued for ships that are
armed for defense purposes (appen-
dices and 100 prescribe under sec
tion 3: II a submarine is obviously
pursuing ship by day, and it is evil
dent to the ships master that she has
shall open fire in self-defense, not
outstanding that she (submarine) may
not have committed any definite hostile
act. such as firing a gun or torpedo
TO this also the simple appearance
OF submarine in the wake OLA mer-
chantman suffices as the occasion for
an armed attack.
Application Is Unlimited.
TN all these orders. which do not
simply confine themselves to the naval
warfare zone around England, but are
unlimited in their sphere of application
compare for Mediterranean appendix
12), the greatest emphasis is laid on
keeping them secret, and obviously
with the purpose of keeping hidden
from the enemy as well as neutral the
conduct OF merchant ships which is OPP
posed to international law and the
British assurances (appendix p.
BY this 1t is rendered clear that
armed English merchant ships have Of
IT.