After sinking the Greek steamer Peleus, Eck tried to sink the lifeboats and wreckage by means of gunfire. The reason he gave was that he wanted in this way to get rid of the debris and avoid being detected by enemy aircraft. He states that he had the Laconia order aboard, but that this order had no influence whatsoever upon his decision. In fact, he had not even thought of it. He had received his instructions from Möhle but had heard nothing about the killing of survivors which is alleged to have been desired; and he knew nothing about the instance of U-386. At the end of his examination, Eck states that he expected his action to be approved by Admiral Dönitz. A further reference was made in cross-examination yesterday to the question of whether Admiral Dönitz...
THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Kranzbühler, we will adjourn now for a few minutes—only for a short time.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: Very well.
[A recess was taken.]
THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Kranzbühler, the Tribunal, as you know, was going to deal with the applications for documents and witnesses, but if you could finish your documents in a short time, they would like to go on with that and get them finished, if you can.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: Mr. President, I believe that even at my present speed, I shall need about an hour. I should like to ask you, therefore, for permission to continue on Monday morning.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, Dr. Kranzbühler, if you think it will be as long as that, of course we must put it off to Monday morning, but the Tribunal does hope that you would not take anything like so long as that, because going in detail into these documents does not really help the Tribunal. They have all got to be gone into again in great detail, both in your speeches and in further consideration by the Tribunal.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: I shall confine myself to making clear the connections, Mr. President, but in spite of that, I think it would be better if I did so on Monday morning.
THE PRESIDENT: Very well, yes. Then the Tribunal will now deal with the applications. Yes, Sir David.
SIR DAVID MAXWELL-FYFE: If Your Lordship pleases, the first application is on behalf of the Defendant Von Schirach, who asked for one Hans Marsalek as a witness for cross-examination. The Prosecution have already introduced an affidavit from this man, and they have no objection to him being called for cross-examination.