U-boat Archive - U-873 - Naval Inspector General Report

Report of the Naval Inspector General

Regarding Irregularities Connected with the Handling of Surrendered German Submarines

	UNITED STATES FLEET
	HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
	NAVY DEPARTMENT
	WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

FF1/A17-25	19 June 1945
Serial : 01783

From:	The Naval Inspector General.
To:	The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet
	and Chief of Naval Operations

Subject:	Irregularities Connected with the Handling of Surrendered
	German Submarines and Prisoners of War at the Navy Yard,
	Portsmouth, New Hampshire - Investigation of.

Reference:	(a) COMINCH and CNO Top Secret despatch to Commandant, Navy
	Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, dated 22 May 1945.

Enclosure:	(A) Facts and Discussion of Facts in subject investigation.

1. The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations, by reference (a), directed the Naval Inspector General to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegation of certain irregularities connected with the handling of surrendered German submarines and German prisoners of war at the Navy Yard and Naval Prison, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Although the directive on which this investigation is based is classified as Top Secret, the Naval Inspector General has, in order to facilitate the preparation of the report and to expedite its passage through the routine channels, changed the classification of the report itself to Confidential.

2. The Naval Inspector General has completed his investigation and herewith submits his report.

CONCLUSIONS

3. The Naval Inspector General concludes that:

	(a) That the serious irregularities reported in the handling of German prisoners at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, were caused by the failure of responsible authorities at the Navy Yard to exercise effective military command in the premises and by the flagrant disregard, by the representatives of Op-16-Z Section of ONI, of the provisions of the Chief of Naval Operations' directive of 19 May 1942, Serial 01227316, which is in conformity with the Geneva Convention, and which particularly prohibits the taking of souvenirs. (Facts 3(a), (b); 4(a); 5; 9(c), (d); 10; 12, 13(c), (d) and Note, (f); 15(b), (c)).

	REFERENCE (a)

	UNITED STATES FLEET
	HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
	NAVY DEPARTMENT
	WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

FF1/A17-25	19 June 1945
Serial : 01783

Subject:	Irregularities Connected with the Handling of Surrendered
	German Submarines and Prisoners of War at the Navy Yard,
	Portsmouth, New Hampshire - Investigation of.

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	(b) That the Commandant of the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Rear Admiral Withers, U. S. Navy, was derelict in his performance of duty in that he failed to recognize and accept his command responsibility and to issue clear, concise instructions to his subordinates with regard to receiving, securing, safeguarding, and stripping U-boats surrendered at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and to safeguard the persons and property, both private and public, of German prisoners of war who were in his custody. He further failed to take effective action when violations of the Chief of Naval Operations' order and the Geneva Convention were brought to his attention. (Facts 3(a), (b); 4(a), (b), ; 9(a), (b) and note).

	(c) That the Captain of the Yard, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Captain C. H. Roper, U. S. Navy, was derelict in his performance of duty in that he, as executive for the Commandant for military matters in the Yard, failed to issue information and instructions to the officers, offices and Navy Yard divisions, and the surrender group under Commander Kimmel, ComSubForLant, Training Command, with regard to receiving, safeguarding, and securing U-boats, and safeguarding the persons and property of prisoners of war as well as seeing that they were properly processed for delivery to their next destination. (Facts 5; 7(a); 9(b)).

	(d) That there is evidence of looting of U-805, the first U-boat to arrive at Portsmouth, by various persons including Marines and naval enlisted men, the extent of which cannot be determined. Thereafter looting of the U-boats appears to have been stopped by the Marine guard by reason of effective action taken by Colonel Patchen, USMC. (Facts 6(c); 8(c)).

	(e) That there is evidence that U-boat intoxicating liquor stores were breached by persons unknown, but there is no confirming evidence of drunkenness of guards, either naval enlisted men or Marine, on board the submarines. (Facts 6(b); (17).

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	UNITED STATES FLEET
	HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
	NAVY DEPARTMENT
	WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

FF1/A17-25	19 June 1945
Serial : 01783

Subject:	Irregularities Connected with the Handling of Surrendered
	German Submarines and Prisoners of War at the Navy Yard,
	Portsmouth, New Hampshire - Investigation of.

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	(f) That the surrender group under Commander Kimmel, ComSubForLant Training Command, performed its function in a satisfactory manner in receiving, safeguarding, securing and stripping the submarines at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, considering that there was a failure on the part of the Yard authorities to properly inform Commander Kimmel of what was required. (Facts 7(a), (b), (c)).

	(g) That the Industrial Division of the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, performed in a satisfactory manner the receiving, safeguarding, and stripping of U-boats turned in at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, after the boats were turned over to them for that purpose. (Facts 8(a), (b).

	(h) That a civilian interrogator, Mr. Jack Henry Alberti, wearing a naval uniform while performing the duty of an interrogator, greatly exceeded his authority and functions, when he practically took over the examination and processing of prisoners of war at the Naval Prison. Mr. Alberti had prisoners' decorations stripped off. He distributed looted decorations and personal and public property to Prison personnel as he saw fit. He caused the Commanding Officer of a surrendered U-boat to be slapped by an enlisted man. (Facts 3(a), (b), (c); 9(c); 10; 11; 12; 13(b); 13(f); 15(a), (c); 16).

	(i) That Mr. Alberti's actions are in direct violation of the Geneva Convention and the Chief of Naval Operations' directives, and that as far as the enemy is aware, he is an American Naval Officer, and his acts were concurred in by the Naval Command. (Facts 3(a), (b); 11; 12, 13(d) and Note 13(f); 15(a)).

	(j) That the supine attitude of the Commanding Officer of the Naval Prison, Colonel Rossell, USMC, and of Lieutenant Commander Hatton, USNR, Office of Naval Intelligence, in permitting Mr. Alberti to conduct himself in the manner which he did, with the German prisoners of war, is most reprehensible. (Facts 9(c); 13(c)).

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	UNITED STATES FLEET
	HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
	NAVY DEPARTMENT
	WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

FF1/A17-25	19 June 1945
Serial : 01783

Subject:	Irregularities Connected with the Handling of Surrendered
	German Submarines and Prisoners of War at the Navy Yard,
	Portsmouth, New Hampshire - Investigation of.

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	(k) That the baggage, the property of German prisoners of war and also public property, was looted in the Prison entrance lobby and in the cell blocks with the active participation of the Field Officer of the Day, Major Mehrlust, USMCR, and that Captain Hines, (MC), U.S. Navy, and Lieutenant Commander Bromberg (MC), USNR, as well as other officers and enlisted men participated in this looting. (Facts 10; 11; 13(g); 15(b)).

	(l) That it was feared that important Intelligence material may have been lost by the looting described above, so that Mr. Alberti prevailed upon the Commanding Officer of the Prison to permit him to recover such material by the humiliating method of bargaining with the looters, both commissioned and enlisted. (Facts 13(c)).

	(m) That this complete lack of appreciation of his command responsibilities on the part of Colonel Rossell, and the evidence of complete failure of discipline in the Prison Command, is considered most reprehensible. (Facts 9(c), (d), and Note; 13(c).

RECOMMENDATIONS

	4. The Naval Inspector General recommends:

	(a) That appropriate administrative or disciplinary action be taken in accordance with the Conclusions in the cases of Rear Admiral Thomas Withers, U.S. Navy, Commandant, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Captain Clifford H. Roper, U.S. Navy, Captain of the Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Colonel J. A. Rossell, U. S. Marine Corps, Commanding Officer of the Naval Prison, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Captain Clifford G. Hines, Medical Corps, U.S. Navy, Senior Medical Officer, Naval Prison, Portsmouth New Hampshire; Lieutenant Commander Walter Bromberg, Medical Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve, Psychiatrist of the Naval Prison, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Major J. P. Mehrlust, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Field Officer of the Day, Naval Prison, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Lieutenant Commander S. R. Hatton, U. S. Naval Reserve, Op-16-Z Section, Office of Naval Intelligence.

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	UNITED STATES FLEET
	HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
	NAVY DEPARTMENT
	WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

FF1/A17-25	19 June 1945
Serial : 01783

Subject:	Irregularities Connected with the Handling of Surrendered
	German Submarines and Prisoners of War at the Navy Yard,
	Portsmouth, New Hampshire - Investigation of.

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	(b) That the Director of Naval Intelligence be directed:

	(1) To take appropriate action in the case of Mr. Jack Henry Alberti, Senior Interrogator in the Office of Naval Intelligence.

	(2) To overhaul the directives under which his special agents are operating.

	(3) To so indoctrinate and curb them to the end that the activities of his subordinates conform to the directives of the Chief of Naval Operations, and do not discredit the naval uniform.

5. The testimony which was taken in this case is exhaustive and voluminous, covering 381 pages of the record of the investigation. This record is retained in the Office of the Naval Inspector General and is available to those who are authorized to have access to it by higher authority.

/s/ C. P. SNYDER

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FACTS AND DISCUSSION OF FACTS REGARDING ALLEGATIONS OF SERIOUS IRREGULARITIES INVOLVING THE HANDLING OF THE PRISONERS, EXTENSIVE LOOTING BY OFFICERS AND MEN ATTACHED TO THE NAVAL PRISON, DRUNKENNESS AMONGST THE GUARDS ON THE SUBMARINE, LOSS OF VALUABLE INTELLIGENCE DOCUMENTS AND POOR SECURITY MEASURES IN CONNECTION WITH THE RECEIPT OF GERMAN PRISONERS AND U-BOATS AT THE NAVY YARD, PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Related Information.

1. The following personnel have an interest in connection with the surrendered German submarines and their personnel:

	(a)	Navy Yard, Portsmouth:

		Rear Admiral Thomas Withers, USN, Commandant.
		Captain C. H. Roper, USN, Captain of the Yard.
		Captain S. E. Dudley, USN, Manager.
		Captain Homer Ambrose, USN, Production Officer,
		Supervisor of surrendered submarines.
		Lieutenant Commander H. S. Knerr, USNR, Progress
		and Scheduling Officer, in charge of work on board submarines.
		Lieutenant Commander J. C. Ives, USNR, Intelligence Officer.

		Colonel F. G. Patchen, USMC (Ret.), Commanding Officer, Marine Barracks.
		Captain R. S. Beckham, USMCR, Commanding Officer,
		Barracks Detachment, Commanding Officer Submarine Guard.
		Captain W. G. Spragg, USMC, Barracks Detachment,
		Commanding Officer, Submarine Guard.

	(b)	Naval Prison, Portsmouth:

		Colonel J. A. Rossell, USMC, Commanding Officer, Naval Prison.
		Major C. A. Johnson, USMCR, Executive Officer, Marine Detachment.
		Major J. P. Mehrlust, USMCR, Field Officer of the Day, 19 May.
		Captain J. M. Schroeder, USMCR
		Warrant Officer L. N. McGraw, USMCR)
		Warrant Officer A. Stancisco, USMCR ) Marine
		Warrant Officer, P. A. Stone, USMCR ) Detachment
		Gunnery Sergeant P. J. Supina, USMC )

		Private first class Sol Leventhal, USMC) Marine
		Private first class J. A. Durkin, USMC ) Detachment

		Captain C. G. Hines (MC), USN, Senior Medical Officer.
		Lieutenant Commander W. Bromberg (MC), USNR, Senior Psychiatrist.

	(c)	Submarine Training Activities, Portsmouth:

		Commander T. K. Kimmel, USN, Officer in Charge,
		Commanding Officer of the relief prize crews.

ENCLOSURE (A)

	(d)	Office of Naval Intelligence, Navy Department:

		Captain J. L. Riheldaffer, USN, Op-16-Z.
		Lieutenant Commander S. R. Hatton, USNR, Op-16-Z, Interrogator.
		Lieutenant L. P. Ewald, USNR, Op-16-Z, Interrogator.
		Lieutenant W. C. Maxwell, USNR, Op-16-Z, Interrogator.
		Mr. J. H. Alberti, Op-16-Z, Senior Interrogator.

2. The dates and times of arrival of the various U-boats at the Navy Yard are as follows:

	Harbor	Yard	Tonnage	Escort

U-805 arrived	15 May	1155, 16 May	825	OTTER DE 210
U-873 "	16 May	1255, 17 May	1320	VANCE DE 387
U-1228 "	17 May	1945, 17 May	825	NEAL A SCOTT DE 769
U-234 "	19 May	1445, 19 May	1952	SUTTON DE 771

3. Instructions and directives regarding handling prisoners of war and captured enemy vessels which are applicable are:

	(a)	Geneva Convention:

		"Article 1. The present Convention shall apply, without prejudice to the stipulations of Title VII (1) To all persons mentioned in Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land, of October 18, 1907, and captured by the enemy. (2) To all persons belonging to the armed forces of belligerent parties, captured by the enemy in the course of military operations at sea or in the air, except for such derogations as might be rendered inevitable by the conditions of capture. However, such derogations shall not infringe upon the fundamental principles of the present Convention; they shall cease from the moment when persons captured have rejoined a prisoners-of-war camp.

		"Article 2: Prisoners of war are in the power of the hostile power, but not of the individuals or corps who have captured them. They must at all times be humanely treated and protected, particularly against acts of violence, insults and public curiosity. Measures of reprisal against them are prohibited.

		"Article 5: Every prisoner of war is bound to give, if he is questioned on the subject, his true name and rank, or else his regimental number. If he infringes this rule, he is liable to have the advantages given to prisoners of his class curtailed. No coercion may be used on prisoners to secure information relative to the condition of their army or country. Prisoners who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted, or exposed to unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kind, whatever. If, because of his physical or mental condition, a prisoner is unable to identify himself, he shall be turned over to the medical corps.

		"Article 6: All effects and objects of personal use - except arms, horses, military equipment and military papers - shall remain in the possession of prisoners of war, as well as metal helmets and gas masks. Money in the possession of prisoners may not be taken away from them except by order of an officer and after the amount is determined. A receipt shall be given. Money thus taken away shall be entered to the account of each prisoner. Identification documents, insignia of rank, decorations and objects of value may not be taken from prisoners."

"Article 6: All effects and objects of personal use - except arms, horses, military equipment and military papers - shall remain in the possession of prisoners of war, as well as metal helmets and gas masks. Money in the possession of prisoners may not be taken away from them except by order of an officer and after the amount is determined. A receipt shall be given. Money thus taken away shall be entered to the account of each prisoner. Identification documents, insignia of rank, decorations and objects of value may not be taken from prisoners."

(b)

CNO and CominCh directives:

(1)

"C-1-42--Instructions for Interrogation of Prisoners of War.

"CONFIDENTIAL. Op-16-F-9, A16-2(4), (SC)A16-2(3), Serial 01227316, 19 May 1942.

"Action: All Ships and Stations.

"(Ref.: (a) C.N.O. Serial 0901116 dated 5 Dec. 1941 (same subject).)

"(Enc.: (A) Vice C.N.O. Serial 01226416 dated 11 May 1942.)

"1. Reference (a) is hereby canceled and all copies will be destroyed. Enclosure (A) to reference (a) will be retained for use with this letter.

"2. The following instructions for the handling and interrogation of prisoners of war captured by vessels of the United States Navy are based on the practical experience of the British Navy during the present war. It is imperative that all officers be familiar with these instructions and that they be strictly adhered to if information of value to the service is to be obtained.

	"PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING PRISONERS OF WAR

	"(a) Immediately, as they are received on board, prisoners shall be segregated into three groups -- officers, noncommissioned officers, and enlisted men -- and placed under armed guard.

	"(b) These groups shall be kept separated from each other at all times.

	"(c) Under no circumstances shall a prisoner officer be permitted to give orders to or talk with any prisoner except those in the officer group. Likewise noncommissioned officers and men shall only be permitted to talk with members of their own group.

	"(d) All prisoners shall be segregated from the ship's company, under armed guard. No fraterhizing or conversation between prisoners and members of the ship's company, other than those

	regularly detailed as interpreters, shall be permitted.

	"(e) Prisoners shall be minutely searched and special care will be taken to prevent anything, of whatever nature, from being thrown overboard or otherwise disposed of. EVERYTHING MUST BE TAKEN FROM THE PRISONERS except necessary clothing. Everything taken from them shall be made up into separate bundles and clearly marked with the name, rank and service number of the owner. A receipt may be given if demanded.

	"(f) The provisions of (e) provide an excellent opportunity to obtain the name, rank and number of every prisoner, as it holds out their only hope of having their personal possessions returned to them.

	"(g) In making the search NOTHING MUST BE OVERLOOKED. Scraps of paper, ticket stubs, receipts, personal letters, photographs, etc., may have great intelligence value with the necessary background knowledge to properly interpret the hidden meaning.

	"(h) AFTER being segregated and searched, prisoners shall be cared for physically; i.e., given warm clothing, fed, given medical attention, cigarettes, etc. Our first interest is in obtaining all information of value to us and any humanitarian considerations must be subordinate to this interest.

	"(j) To the list of prisoners should be added any pertinent remarks which may be of value to the interrogator at a later date.

	"(k) Although some prisoners may be taken who are eager to talk under the stress and shock of action, capture and possible exposure, there shall be no attempt made to conduct a formal interrogation on board except as noted below. If a prisoner captured is suffering from wounds or exposure to such a degree that he cannot be expected to survive until interned an interrogation may be undertaken. In such a case the Questionnaire (Enclosure (A) to reference (a)) may

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	be used as a guide, that part being used which is applicable to the technical information the prisoner may be presumed to possess.

	"(l) After a prisoner has been so interrogated he will be kept away from all other prisoners and must not be permitted to talk with any other prisoner.

	"(m) Upon arrival in port the prisoners will be turned over to the representative of the Commandant of the Naval District or other proper authority, together with a statement of the action, list of prisoners, the prisoners' personal possessions, and any other material which may have been collected. The Naval District, or other authority, will immediately notify the Division of Naval Intelligence, Navy Department, by despatch, and request instructions as to the disposition of the prisoners and their effects.

	"(n) NO SOUVENIRS OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER ARE TO BE RETAINED.

	"(o) In consideration of the natural and understandable desire for souvenirs of any action with the enemy the Division of Naval Intelligence will undertake to set aside such articles received as have no technical or intelligence value to be returned to the Commanding Officer of the forces involved for distribution to such of the personnel as he may deem fit.

	"(p) When conditions permit, floating papers and other debris of possible intelligence value should be collected and retained for delivery to the proper authority upon making port.

"3. On every ship or station there can probably be found some among the officers and men with a knowledge of the language needed. One or more should be selected to act as interpreters in dealing with the prisoners. These so detailed should be men of great patience and forbearance and with a considerate and sympathetic manner. The men so detailed should be the only members of the ship's company permitted to hold any conversation with the prisoners.

"4. Officers and men detailed as interpreters should be present with the prisoners during meals and during their periods of exercise or relaxation. From conversations overheard or from casual conversation (NOT INTERROGATION) with the prisoners some information may be gained.

"5. If sufficient men with language qualifications are available, one or more additional may be detailed to assist the prisoners or as part of

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the guard. These men should not divulge their knowledge of the language to the prisoners and should never speak in the prisoners' language in their hearing. They may, in this way, pick up information of value from conversations overheard between prisoners.

"6. A complete written record of such information should be made and copies included with the personal possessions and papers turned over to the shore authorities.

"7. Enclosure (A) is forwarded for information. Although the instructions contained therein apply primarily to shore activities it will explain and clarify the reasons for the instructions contained therein and emphasize the necessity of strict compliance in order that our "team work" may carry through to a successful conclusion.

"8. While the provisions of this letter are primarily applicable to operations in or adjacent to the costal waters of the United States, where there will be the least delay in bringing ashore prisoners of war, they are set forth as a model for the handling of prisoners of war by all commands. Experience has shown that most favorable results can be gained through this procedure and it should be adhered to in operations in more remote areas so far as circumstances will permit.

"9. The necessity for strict adherence to these instructions is well illustrated by an incident which recently occurred. After successfully sinking an enemy submarine, the commanding officer and a large number of crew were rescued by the engaging vessel. When the prisoners were on board the captain of the enemy submarine was permitted to address the prisoners and took advantage of this opportunity to harangue them on the necessity of maintaining silence on all matters of interest to their captors. When his harangue was understood by members of the capturing vessel's crew he was restrained from continuing. However, the damage had been done and a well disciplined, security conscious company of prisoners arrived ashore. During the passage to port there was also a large degree of fraternizing between prisoners and crew members which further assisted in building up enemy morale and in making the interrogators' task most difficult if not impossible.

---OpNav. F. J. Horne."

Enclosure (A), Vice C.N.O. Serial 01226416 dated 11 May 1942 referred to above is as follows:

	(2)	"C-5-42--Recovery of Information From Enemy Submarines.

		"CONFIDENTIAL. Op-16-F-9, (SC)L11-1, L11-1/SS, SS/EF&$, Serial No. 01226416, 11 May 1942.

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"Action: All Sea Frontier Commanders.

All District Commandants (Less 9 and 16).

"(Ref.: (a) CNO Serial 0574016 dated 6 Mar 1942 (same subject and file).)

"1. Reference (a) is hereby superseded.

"2. In view of the present enemy submarine operations close to American shores, the possibility of sinking an enemy submarine must be reckoned with. Under favorable conditions an enemy submarine so sunk would present an opportunity for the recovery of documents, personal effects and equipment of the highest intelligence value to our forces in the conduct of anti-submarine warfare.

"3. It must be realized by all members of our armed forces that if knowledge of the recovery of such material reaches the enemy immediate steps will be taken to offset the advantage we may have gained. Furthermore, much information painstakingly compiled from other sources would be jeopardized, if not completely nullified, by such enemy countermeasures.

"4. The following instructions are issued for guidance of Commanders of Sea Frontiers and District Commandants:

	"(a) The office of Naval Intelligence, Navy Department is charged with the collection and evaluation and dissemination of all Intelligence Information.

	"(b) The Navy Department, Office of Naval Intelligence, must be informed immediately, by despatch, whenever an action takes place which may afford a reasonable possibility of recovering any materials, of any nature whatsoever, from an enemy submarine, or in which such materials have been recovered.

	"(c) The Office of Naval Intelligence will immediately furnish a trained officer, familiar with the layout of enemy submarines and with the language of the enemy country, to report to the Commandant of the Naval District or Commander Sea Frontier involved.

	"(d) Where salvage operations are to be undertaken, facilities will be afforded the representative of the Office of Naval Intelligence to be on board the salvage vessel during recovery operations so that his knowledge of enemy submarine construction and the internal arrangements for security may be available to the officer in charge.

	"(e) All documents and all other materials and equipment, without exception, may be of great value. This will be understood to include

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	everything of any nature whatsoever recovered either by divers or otherwise. No souvenirs of any kind are to be retained by anyone. Floating scraps of paper or other wreckage should be carefully collected.

	"(f) All documents, materials and equipment, without exception, will be delivered to the representative of the Office of Naval Intelligence for transmission to the Navy Department, Office of Naval Intelligence. Materials recovered should pass through as few hands as possible to insure security, avoid damage, and permit complete examination with the minimum of delay.

	"(g) The advice of the representative of the Office of Naval Intelligence will be taken as to the order of precedence to be given articles to be recovered.

	"(h) Divers entering a sunken submarine will be provided with a waterproof bag in which papers or documents can be placed for removal, as important enemy papers are often soluble in salt water.

	"(i) Only Navy divers should be used in any attempt to enter a sunken enemy submarine. Secrecy can only be maintained by using service personnel throughout.

	"(j) Upon receipt of documents, materials or equipment, in the Navy Department, the Office of Naval Intelligence will be responsible for their distribution to the cognizant Bureaus or Divisions within the Department.

	"(k) It is recommended that a suitable and plausible story be prepared which can be circulated, if necessary, to explain any diving operations carried out within sight of persons outside the service. Recovery of documents or other materials should always be denied.

"5. In consideration of the natural and understandable desire for souvenirs of any action with the enemy, the Office of Naval Intelligence will undertake to set aside such articles received which have no technical or intelligence value to be returned to the Commanding Officers of the forces effecting the sinking and recovery for distribution to such of their personnel as they may deem fit.

"6. It is not expected that the recovery of materials from any one submarine will yield a complete picture of enemy operations. However, any material of whatever nature may prove to be of great value when considered in conjunction with other information assembled from other sources.

---OpNav. F. J. Horne."

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(1) Commandant, First Naval District's Confidential letter DIO/B/WHE/mcl, serial 04121500, dated 12 April 1945, to Commandant, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N. H., and other addresses--Subject: Prisoners of War - Handling of in the First Naval District.

"Ref: (a) CNO conf. ltr. to All Ships and Stations, Serial No. 01227316, dated May 19, 1942.

(b) ComOne conf. ltr. to various shore stations, 1ND, same subject, DIO/B/RWH/mmg 250815, dated 8 Jan 1943.

"1. Reference (b) outlined in detail the procedure for handling Naval prisoners of war who might arrive in First Naval District.

"2. Reference (c), being a despatch from Cinclant to Allant of 10 April 1945, is quoted for convenience as follows:

'Surrender Procedures: Provide special parties for boarding German submarines in cases of surrender. Utilize German speaking personnel to maximum.'

"3. The commanding officer, or senior line officer present, at the port to which German Naval prisoners may be brought shall in the first instance, under reference (b), take custody of prisoners, their documents, their personal effects and of any vessel or its gear that may be involved. Such officer shall have the immediate duty of notifying ComOne (DIO), who will, as quickly as possible thereafter, assume responsibility and take all necessary action in compliance with references (a) and (b). In the interim, the provisions of reference (b) should be carefully followed.

"4. Attention is invited to the possibility that, if a vessel is involved in the surrender, it might be scuttled or be equipped with demolition charges or be booby trapped. Appropriate precautionary measures should be taken.

"5. The foregoing is forwarded for information and guidance.

"By direction of the Commandant, First Naval District:

/s/ Edmund F. Jewell,

Captain, USNR.

"cc - C/S

Assistant Comdts.

DCGO

All Heads of Divisions, Hdqtrs., 1ND

Hdqtrs. Duty Officer".

(NOTE: Reference (a) appears under paragraph 3(b) (1) of this report.)

(2) Commandant, First Naval District's Confidential letter DIO/B/RWH/mmg, serial 250815 Q November, dated 8 January 1945, to the Commandant, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and other addresses, subject: Prisoners of War - Handling of in the First Naval District.

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"Ref:

(a) AlNav 14.

(b) CNO Confidential ltr. to All Ships and Stations, Serial No. 01227316, dated May 19, 1942.

"Encl.

(A) Instructions for handling prisoners of war.

"1. Enclosure (A) prepared in accordance with reference (a), (b) and (c), is issued for the information and guidance of the addressees.

"cc:	All Heads of Divisions	/s/ John S. Barleen
	Asst. Comdt.	John S. Barleen,
	Cdr. Northern Air Patrol	Captain, U.S.N.,
	Cdr. Northern Ship Lane	Chief of Staff
	Cdr. Naval Local Defense Force."

Enclosure (A) referred to in above letter, is as follows:

"HANDLING OF PRISONERS OF WAR IN FIRST NAVAL DISTRICT

Brief Index of Duties Performed by:

The Commandant will:

(1) Designate the Command which will receive and have custody.

(2) Inform the Command of number of prisoners to be received.

(3) Inform the Command when to transfer custody to Army.

"II

The Commanding Officer of the Station designated to receive prisoners of war will:

(1) Effect custody of prisoners.

(2) Forward prisoners' documents to District Intelligence Officer.

(3) Effect safekeeping of prisoners' personal effects.

(4) Process prisoners.

(5) Deliver prisoners to Army when so directed by the Commandant.

"III

The District Intelligence Officer will:

(1) Inform Office of Naval Intelligence, giving number of prisoners and other pertinent information.

(2) Accept custody of prisoners' documents.

(3) Make arrangements with Army to accept custody when requested.

"IV

The Director of Naval Intelligence will:

(1) Send special personnel to take entire charge of interrogation, when considered necessary.

The Army (Commanding General, First Service Command (Provost Marshal)) will:

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	(1) Take custody of prisoners of war when requested by Commandant.

	"INSTRUCTIONS FOR HANDLING PRISONERS OF WAR
	FIRST NAVAL DISTRICT<