Please return enclosed with your suggestions.
[Enclosure]
Regulations Governing the Conduct of American
Merchant Vessels on Which Armed Guards Have Been Placed
1. Armed Guards on American merchant vessels are for the sole purpose
of defense against the unlawful acts of the submarines of Germany or
of any nation following the policy announced by Germany in her note
of January 31, 1917.22 Neither
the Armed Guards nor their arms can be used for any other
purpose.
2. The announced policy of Germany, in her note of January 31, 1917,
to sink all vessels that enter certain areas of the high seas, has
led the Government of the United States to authorize Armed Guards on
merchant vessels to resist any and all attempts of the submarines of
Germany or of any nation following the policy announced by Germany
in her note of January 31st, to put that policy into practice.
3. It shall be lawful for the Armed Guard on any American merchant
vessel to fire upon any submarine of Germany or of any nation
following the policy of Germany announced in her note of January 31,
1917, that attempts to approach, or lies within 4,000 yards of the
commercial route of the vessel sighting the submarine, if the
submarine is sighted within the zone proscribed by Germany.
4. No Armed Guard on any American merchant vessel shall fire at any
submarine that lies more than 4,000 yards from the commercial route
of the vessel sighting the submarine, except that the submarine
shall have fired first.
5. No Armed Guard on any American merchant vessel shall take any
offensive action against any submarine of Germany or of any nation
following the policy of Germany announced in her note of January 31,
1917, on the high seas outside of the zones proscribed by Germany,
unless the submarine is guilty of an unlawful act that jeopardizes
the vessel, her passengers, or crew, or unless the submarine is
submerged.
6. No Armed Guard on an American merchant vessel shall attack a
submarine that is retiring or attempting to retire either within or
without the zone proscribed by Germany, unless it may be reasonably
presumed to be manoeuvering for renewal of attack.
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7. In all cases not herein specifically excepted the Armed Guard on
American merchant vessels shall be governed by the principles of
established international law and the treaties and conventions to
which the Government of the United States is a party.
8. American merchant vessels are forbidden to pursue or search out
the submarines of any nation or to engage in any aggressive warfare
against them.
9. American merchant vessels shall make every effort compatible with
the safety of the merchant vessel to save the lives of the crew of
any submarine that may be sunk, or that submits, or is in
distress.
10. American merchant vessels shall make every effort to avoid the
submarines of Germany and of any nation following the policy of
Germany announced in her note of January 31, 1917, while in the
zones proscribed by Germany.
11. American merchant vessels shall display the American colors
continuously at sea.
12. American merchant vessels should communicate with the Commandant
of the Naval District before leaving a United States port to make
sure of the latest information.
13. The safety of American merchant vessels requires that they obey
all instructions of vessels of war of the United States.
On Sighting a Submarine in the Proscribed
Zones
14. If a submarine is sighted beyond torpedo range, bring submarine
abaft the beam and keep her there. If submarine attempts to close,
bring her astern and proceed at highest possible speed.
15. If submarine is sighted close aboard forward of the beam, the
greatest safety lies in changing course directly toward the
submarine.
16. If submarine is sighted close aboard abaft the beam, the greatest
safety lies in turning away from the submarine and proceeding at
highest speed.
On Opening Fire in Defense Against the Unlawful
Acts of Submarines
17. Hoist national colors before first shot is fired.
18. Once it has been decided to open fire, do not submit to the gun
fire of a submarine so long as the armed guard can continue to
fire.
19. Send all persons except bridge force and the armed guard below
decks while vessel is under fire.
20. Watch out for torpedoes and maneuver to avoid them. If unable to
avoid them, maneuver so that they will strike a glancing blow.
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The Armed Guard
21. The Armed Guard is commanded by the Senior Naval Officer on
board. He shall have exclusive control over the military functions
of the Armed Guard and shall be responsible for the execution of all
the regulations given herein governing the employment of the Armed
Guard.
22. The military discipline of the Armed Guard shall be administered
by the naval officer commanding the Armed Guard.
23. The Armed Guard shall be subject to the orders of the Master of
the merchant vessel as to matters of non-military character, but the
members of the Armed Guard shall not be required to perform any ship
duties except their military duty, and these shall be performed
invariably under the direction of the officer commanding the Armed
Guard.
24. The decision as to opening fire or ceasing fire upon any
submarine shall reside exclusively with the naval officer commanding
the Armed Guard.
25. The enlisted personnel of the Armed Guard shall be quartered and
messed together on board both in port and at sea, at the expense of
the owners of the vessel, on which the Armed Guard is serving, in a
manner satisfactory to the naval officer commanding the Armed
Guard.
26. The naval officer commanding the Armed Guard shall take
precedence next after the Master, except that he shall not be
eligible for succession to the command of the ship. He shall be
quartered and messed on board both at sea and in port, at the
expense of the owners of the vessel on which he is serving, and in a
manner appropriate to his precedence next after the Master.
27. The Master of the merchant vessel shall, on request of the
commander of the Armed Guard, detail members of the crew to handle
ammunition, clear decks, and otherwise supplement the service of the
gun.
28. The naval officer commanding the Armed Guard shall be responsible
for:—
- (a)
- The condition of the battery and its appurtenances.
- (b)
- The training of the guns’ crews and spotters, including
members of the ship’s force detailed by the Master to assist
in the service of the guns.
- (c)
- The readiness of the ship’s battery at night.
- (d)
- The readiness of the Armed Guard to perform its duties at
all times.
- (e)
- The continuous lookout near each gun by a member of the
Armed Guard.
- (f)
- The making of all reports required by the Navy
Department.
Josephus Daniels
Secretary of the Navy
March 13, 1917.
