“The British Merchant Navy has received the following instructions:
“(a) To fight every German submarine with all the means at hand, to ram it or attack it with depth charges, if equipped to do so.”
Further details follow.
Experiences drawn, from the entire operations of the British Merchant Service are summarized in the next document in an order. It has been numbered Dönitz-66, and is on Page 161. I shall read the order, which is dated 17 October 1939:
“At 1500 hours the following order was issued to Commander of Submarines:
“Submarines are permitted immediate and full use of armed force against all merchant vessels recognizable with certainty as being of enemy nationality, as in every case attempts to ram or other forms of active resistance may be expected. Exceptions to be made as hitherto in the case of enemy passenger boats.”
On Page 162 I have reproduced another part of Document Dönitz-62, which has been submitted already. It is a note to the neutral countries dated 22 October 1939, defining conduct on the part of ships which is, according to German opinion, incompatible with the peaceful character of a merchant ship. I read from the long paragraph, the second sentence:
“According to previous experiences such tactics may be expected with certainty from English and French boats, particularly when sailing in convoys: inadmissible use of wireless, sailing without lights, and in addition armed resistance and aggressive action.”
In the next, the German Government warns neutral nations against the use of enemy ships for this reason. The German orders were issued in consequence of the experiences gained by our U-boats.
I have already submitted the next document, Dönitz-67, on Page 163 et sequentes and I only wish to explain on the basis of a report made by the British Admiralty, which is on Page 163, that the orders for merchant shipping were published in the Handbook for the Defense of Merchant Ships of January 1938—they were issued before the war.