The instructions referred to were announced on August 17 following a meeting of Ministers, at which consideration was given to the position of shipping in the Mediterranean, Ships have been bombed, torpedoed and fired upon without warning, and usually in the dark, by aircraft," submarines and surface craft of a nationality undetermined. No steps have been taken for the safety of crews of vessels attacked in defence of the dictates of humanity and the laws of war.
Late last evening the Admiralty made the following announcement: "It has proved impossible to ascertain whether the counter-attack was successful. No submarine which could be identified with the Havock's assailant has since been discovered. Apart from the foregoing it is most unlikely any further information will be avajlable."—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.