NAVY DEPARTMENT

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

WASHINGTON DC

NAVAL MESSAGE NAVY DEPARTMENT

TO: ALL U.S. PACIFIC COMMANDERS

FROM: CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

DATE: 15:45 HOURS 07 DECEMBER 1941

JAPANESE MILITARY FORCES HAVE ATTACKED U.S. NAVAL BASE AT PEARL HARBOR X U.S. PACIFIC FLEET SEVERELY DAMAGED X YOU ARE ORDERED TO COMMENCE UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE AGAINST ALL JAPANESE MERCHANT AND MILITARY ASSETS X LONDON SUBMARINE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN RENOUNCED BY WASHINGTON X SQUADRON COMMANDERS WILL IMMEDIATELY ISSUE ORDERS OF DEPLOYMENT.

RELEASED BY:

REAR ADMIRAL ROYAL INGERSOL