Simultaneously with: the news that the Admiralty has published the orders relative to submarines which have been given to merchantmen, the German fly-sheet in Shang. hai prints the following Reuter is trying to discredit the Ger man report about the instructions given by the British Admiralty to Britiah armed merchant-men. Reuter asserts that armed merchantmen were instructed never to attack submarines or other men-of-wat except for defence. It is useful to com pare with this amer tion the text the "Instructions regarding—submaris applicable to vessels carrying a defend armament" as found on board of British str. Woodfield. These instru. read literally as follows, "Defensively armed vessels should generally follow the instructions for ordinary merchant ships.
"In submarine waters means should be kept in instant readiness.
"Tf a submarine is obviously pursuing ship by day and it is evident to the master that she has hostile—intentions, the ship pursued shall open fire in self defence, notwithstanding the subman reay not have committed a definite hostile act, such aa firing " gun or torpedo.
"Tu view of the great difficulty in dist tinguishing © friend from an enemy at night fire should not be ordered after dark unless it ie absolutely certain that the vessel fired at is hostile.
"Before opening fire British colours should be hoisted.
"Tt in essential that fire should not be these instructions with Reuter's statement. No better evidence could ably be wanted of their character. Of course the German submarine "obviously pursuing a ship" may only be wanting to take tea with her, but in view of the attack on all merchantmen officially proclaimed by Germany, chances are against it. We thank the "Ostasiatischer Lloyd" for the publicity it has given to the Admiralty's instructions, regardless of the ridiculous position in which it thereby puts itself.
Mar. 7.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.